The RSPB: Blue tit

Conservation status: Green

A colourful mix of blue, yellow, white and green makes the blue tit one of our most attractive and most recognisable garden visitors. In winter, family flocks join up with other tits as they search for food. A garden with four or five blue tits at a feeder at any one time may be feeding 20 or more.

Overview

Latin name

Cyanistes caeruleus

Family

Tits (Paridae)

Where to see them

Blue tits are common in woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens. They're widespread and found across the whole of the UK with the exception of some Scottish islands.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Insects, caterpillars, seeds and nuts.

Population

Europe	UK breeding*	UK wintering*	UK passage*
20-44 million pairs	3,535,000 territories	15 million birds	-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

In the UK: All of the UK
In Europe: All of Europe
Worldwide: Europe, N Africa and Near East

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Illustrations

Blue tit - adult

Blue tit - juvenile

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Blue tits are easy to recognise, with a blue cap and yellow breast. In spring and summer, watch out for young blue tits which have yellow instead of white cheeks.