Coal Tit

Periparus ater

The Coal Tit is a small, cheerful bird with a black cap and white cheeks. They love to flit around trees and are often seen in gardens, searching for tasty seeds and insects.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Coal Tit is a small, neat bird with a distinctive black head featuring bold white cheek patches and a prominent white patch on its nape. Its back is grey, and its underside is buff, making it easily identifiable from other tits.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyParidaeGenusPeriparus

Photo: soumyajit nandy from Kolkata, IndiaCC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Coal Tit

Interesting facts

A Coal Tit will sometimes peck at tree bark, sounding like a tiny woodpecker looking for food!

Coal Tits sometimes join mixed flocks with other tit species during winter for safety and foraging!

These tiny birds can eat up to a third of their body weight in food every single day!

They often build their cozy nests hidden inside tree holes or even old mouse burrows!

Special abilities

Coal Tit can hide food in many spots because of their excellent spatial memory, helping them find snacks later.

Coal Tit can cling upside down on branches because of their strong claws, helping them find hidden insects.

Coal Tit has a fine, pointed beak that helps them expertly extract seeds from tight pine cones.

Measurements & details

Length: 10-11.5 cm
Wingspan: 17-21 cm
Weight: 0.007-0.012 kg
Lifespan: 2-5 years
Speed: 35 km/h
Clutch Size: 7-11
Incubation: 14-16 days

Diet & Feeding

Coal Tits eat mostly insects and spiders, but also enjoy seeds, nuts, and berries!

Primary Foods

insects
spiders
pine seeds
beech mast
berries
sunflower seeds

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

Depends on

Norway Spruce

Picea abies

Provides seeds and sheltered nesting sites.

Depends on

Scots Pine

Pinus sylvestris

Relies on its seeds, especially in winter.

Eaten by

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

A common aerial predator of small woodland birds.

Eaten by

Domestic Cat

Felis catus

A frequent predator in gardens and urban areas.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Singing

Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species.

Arboreal

Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Diurnal

Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Birds

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Coal Tit?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Coal Tit?

10-11.5 cm

What is Coal Tit's wingspan?

17-21 cm

How much does Coal Tit weigh?

0.007-0.012 kg

How long does Coal Tit live?

2-5 years

How fast can Coal Tit move?

35 km/h

What does Coal Tit eat?

Coal Tits eat mostly insects and spiders, but also enjoy seeds, nuts, and berries!