Conservation status: Green
Not as colourful as some of its relatives, the coal tit has a distinctive grey back, black cap, and white patch at the back of its neck. Its smaller, more slender bill than blue or great tits means it can feed more successfully in conifers. A regular visitor to most peanut feeders, they will take and store food for eating later. In winter they join with other tits to form flocks which roam through woodlands and gardens in search of food.
Latin name
Periparus ater
Family
Tits (Paridae)
Where to see them
Woodland, especially conifer woods, parks and gardens.
When to see them
All year round.
What they eat
Insects, seeds and nuts.
Population
| Europe | UK breeding* | UK wintering* | UK passage* | | - | 653,000 territories | - | - |
- In the UK
- All UK (not N and W Isles of Scotland)