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  • Bearded tit

Bearded tit

Bearded tit (male)
Bearded tit (male)
Bearded tit (female/juvenile)
Bearded tit (female/juvenile)
  • Scientific name: Panurus biarmicus
  • Bird family: Bearded tit
  • UK conservation status: Green
  • Protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Bearded tit call

Your browser does not support this audio feature.

Niels Krabbe, Xeno-canto

Key information

The bearded tit is a Schedule 1 species. They are brown, long-tailed birds, usually seen flying rapidly across the top of a reedbed. Males have black 'moustaches' rather than 'beards'.

They are sociable and noisy, their 'ping' calls often being the first clue to their presence.

What they eat:

Insects, insect larvae, spiders and seeds.

Measurements:

Length:
12.5cm
Wingspan:
16-18cm
Weight:
12-18g

Population:

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.
UK breeding:
630 pairs
Europe:
232 - 437,000 birds

Identifying features:

This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.

Bearded tit (male)

Bearded tit male
Feather colour: Black Blue Brown Cream/buff Grey Orange White
Beak: Black Brown Yellow Short Medium thickness
Natural habitats: Wetland

Bearded tit (female/juvenile)

Bearded tit female
Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Orange White
Beak: Black Brown Short Medium thickness
Natural habitats: Wetland

Where and when to see them

The bearded tit is found only in reedbeds but small numbers may be found away from breeding areas in winter.

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  • Resident
  • Passage
  • Summer
  • Winter
Bearded tit distribution map

Bearded tits can be seen all year round.

  • jan
  • feb
  • mar
  • apr
  • may
  • jun
  • jul
  • aug
  • sep
  • oct
  • nov
  • dec

RSPB reserves

  • RSPB Tay Reedbeds
  • RSPB Vange Marsh
  • RSPB Newport Wetlands
  • RSPB Ouse Fen
  • RSPB Ham Wall
  • RSPB Lakenheath Fen
  • RSPB Lodmoor
  • RSPB Blacktoft Sands
  • RSPB Titchwell Marsh
  • RSPB Bowers Marsh
  • RSPB Langford Lowfields
  • RSPB Leighton Moss
  • RSPB Minsmere
  • RSPB Old Hall Marshes
  • RSPB Radipole Lake

Video

Watch a bearded tit in its natural habitat.

Watch a bearded tit in its natural habitat.

Play video
Bearded tit video screenshot

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