Willow Tit

The willow tit (Poecile montanus), a small passerine bird, is a member of the tit family, Paridae. Exhibiting a grey-brown and off-white plumage, it is adorned with a distinctive black cap and bib. This bird is a conifer specialist, which is reflected in its distribution, extending throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and across the Palearctic.

Identification Tips

Adult willow tits are approximately 11.5 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 17 to 20.5 cm, and an average weight around 11 grams. They possess a large head and a thin bill. The black cap is long and dull, descending to the mantle, and the black bib is prominent. The face is white, the back grey-brown, and the underparts buff. Both sexes share a similar appearance, making them difficult to distinguish based on plumage alone.

Habitat

The willow tit is more commonly found in coniferous forests than its relative, the marsh tit, which allows it to breed further north.

Distribution

This bird is a widespread and common resident breeder across temperate and subarctic Europe and the Palearctic. It is a non-migratory species, with most individuals remaining in their breeding areas year-round.

Behaviour

The willow tit is known for excavating its own nesting holes, often in rotten stumps or decayed trees. It is a solitary nester and is not known to migrate.

Song & Calls

The willow tit's vocalizations include a nasal "zee, zee, zee" and occasionally a double note "ipsee, ipsee" repeated several times.

Breeding

Nesting sites are self-excavated in decayed wood. The nest is a cup of felted material, with clutches typically consisting of six to nine eggs. These eggs are white with red-brown speckles, incubated solely by the female for 13-15 days. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after 17-20 days. Only one brood is raised per season.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the willow tit includes insects, caterpillars, and seeds, similar to other tit species. It is also known to be parasitized by the moorhen flea.

Conservation status

Globally, the willow tit is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a large estimated population. However, there has been a noted decline in numbers, particularly in the United Kingdom, where habitat loss, competition for nesting sites, and predation are contributing factors to its decreasing population.