Convervation status: Red 1 video Latin namePoecile palustris FamilyTits (Paridae) OverviewThis is a small, mainly brown bird, with a shiny black cap, dark 'bib' and pale belly. In the UK its identification is made tricky by the very similar appearance of our race of willow tit. They're so hard to identify that ornithologists didn't realise there were two species until 1897! Where to see themDespite their name, marsh tits are most often found in broadleaf woodland, and also copses, parks and gardens. They occur across England and Wales, with a few in southern Scotland but are most abundant in south Wales and southern and eastern England. When to see themAt any time of year What they eatInsects and seeds. If marsh tits find a good supply – perhaps at a garden feeder – they may start to hoard seeds, burying and hiding them for a rainy day. Their hippocampus – the part of their brain which specialises in remembering things – is large, bigger than a great tit's. Estimated numbers| Europe | UK breeding* | UK wintering* | UK passage* |
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| - | 52,800 territories | - | - |
* 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
Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations. Sound: Ruud van Beusekom, Xeno-canto |