Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Poecile (unknown small bird) atricapillus ("black cap")

Adult Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) in Anchorage, Alaska, USA - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Poecile atricapillus turneri
Weight: 9-14g  /  Length: 12-15cm  /  Wingspan: 15-21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small and abundant tit that is found throughout much of Northern North America, although in the South-Eastern US it is replaced by the very similar looking Carolina Chickadee. It is an adaptable species found in both coniferous and deciduous forests as well as human modified habitats. They are not migratory, but have several adaptations to deal with cold temperatures including caching behaviour and the ability to lower their body temperature and enter a state of torpor.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
SUBSPECIES: P. a. turneri, P. a. occidentalis, P. a. fortuitus, P. a. septentrionalis, P. a. bartletti, P. a. garrinus, P. a. nevadensis, P. a. practicus

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Present in Southern and Central Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

UNITED STATES - Present in Northern States of the Lower 48 and Alaska
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Poecile (unknown small bird) hudsonicus ("of the Hudson")

Adult Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Poecile hudsonicus stoneyi
Weight: 10g  /  Length: 13-14cm  /  Wingspan: 21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name implies, a specialist of the taiga of North America, particularly favouring spruce and fir forests. They may associate with other chickadee species where they overlap, with the few I saw being mixed in with Black-capped Chickadee flocks.  They store food for the winter, often within the same trees they forage in.  

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
SUBSPECIES: P. h. stoneyi, P. h. hudsonicus, P. h. columbianus, P. h.  farleyi, P. h. littoralis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Present in Alaska and range just tips over the Northern US Border
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Poecile (unknown small bird) rufescens ("reddish")

Adult Chestnut-backed Chickadee (subspecies P. r. barlowi) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Poecile rufescens barlowi
Weight: 8.5-12g  /  Length: 11-12cm  /  Wingspan: 19cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The only typical member of the tit family found in the Bay Area, the Chestnut-backed Chickadee is a fairly typical member of the family visually, although the namesake chestnut back does make it stand out. They are adaptable to harsh winters via being able to manage their own nocturnal hypothermia, which some studies have suggested could reduce their energy usage by approaching a third.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
SUBSPECIES: P. r. rufescens, P. r. neglectus, P. r. barlowi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

A West Coast species, including Southern Alaska
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley and Roy's Redwoods

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus)

OTHER NAMES: European Crested Tit 

Latin Etymology: Lophophanes ("crest showing") cristatus ("crested")

Adult Crested Tit (subspecies L. c. mitratus) in Parque Oeste, Madrid, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Lophophanes cristatus mitratus

Weight: 10-13g  /  Length: 11.5cm  /  Wingspan: 17-20cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Crested Tit is a highly distinctive species in Europe, its sharp crest being a feature not found in any other tit species on the continent making it's identification easy.  However, as a British species it's distribution is very restricted - while on mainland Europe it can be found throughout Northern and Western Europe, in the UK it can only be found in the ancient Caledonian Forests of Scotland.  Everywhere else in it's range, it can be be found in any suitable pine habitat, including in city parks such as the one in Madrid where we found this one!

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Lophophanes
Subspecies: L. .c scotius, L. c. abadiei, L. c. weigoldi, L. c. cristatus, L. c. baschkirikus, L. c. mitratus, L. c. bureschi.

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Herrerillo capuchina ("Capuchin Tit")
Fairly Common and widespread resident in suitable habitat

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Small flock seen in Parque Oeste

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several pairs seen in treetops at El Pardo 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Japanese Tit (Parus minor)

OTHER NAMES: Oriental Tit 

Latin Etymology: Parus ("tit") minor ("smaller")

Japanese Tit (Parus minor) at Shiranuka, Hokkaido, Japan - November 2014

Featured Subspecies: Parus minor minor
Weight: 16g  /  Length: 12.5-14cm  /  Wingspan: 22-25cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

Yet another recent split from a parent species,.the Japanese Tit is essentially the Great Tit of East Asia, essentially looking indistinguishable from them.  They were a fairly common sight in my visits to parks and forests in Japan, and the most common of the tits there.  Apparently both this and the Great Tit coexist without notably interbreeding, but personally, from the admittedly distant views I had of them, I couldn't differentiate the two in the field from the fleeting views I had if both were present.  I saw a few more in Shiranuka in a mixed flock during my second Japan visit.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Parus
Subspecies:  P. m. minor, P. m. tibetanus, P. m. subtibetanus, P. m. nubicolus, P. m. dageletensis, P. m. amamiensis, P. m. okinawae, P. m. nigriloris, P. m. commixtus

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - シジュウカラ / Shijū-kara ("Forty Tit")

Locally abundant resident of rocky coasts.

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A number of birds at the Imperial Palace Gardens in Kyoto.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Two birds at Shiranuka.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Poecile (unknown small bird) montanus ("of the mountains")

Adult Willow Tit (subspecies P. m. kleinshcmidti) in Pitsford Reservoir, Northants -  January 2011

Featured Subspecies: Poecile montanus kleinschmidti
Weight: 12-13g  /  Length: 10-13cm  /  Wingspan: 19cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most pressing issue with the Willow Tit is the fact it is very very similar looking to the more common marsh tit, and indeed, often they can live in the same places and habitats. The Marsh Tit is by far the more common of the two around where I live, so generally, I tend to assume that a bird is a Marsh tit unless I have reason to doubt it. The are a few identifying features however - the pale panel on the wing and the roundness, which I've seen described as "bull necked" or "egg shaped". The real best feature for this species is the call, the standard call for each being very distinct - in the case of the Marsh tit, which is a fairly typical high pitched and slightly sneeze like tweeting, while these birds call with a deeper and more nasal "pchay chay chay". It's probably worth taking a look online to listen to the difference.  The is doing fine worldwide, it has suffered massive declines in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
Subspecies: P. m. kleinschmidti, P. m. rhenanus, P. m. salicarius, P. m. montanus, P. m. borealis, P. m. uralensis, P. m. baicalensis, P. m. anadyrensis, P. m. kamtschatkensis, P. m. sachalinensis, P. m. restrictus, P. m. songarus, P. m. affinis, P. m. stoetzneri   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread but scarce and local breeding resident (3,400 pairs)

 - Occasional single birds seen at Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.

Further Information: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Poecile (unknown small bird) palustris ("marsh")

Adult Marsh Tit (subspecies P. p. palustris) at Geddington, Northants -  July 2010

Featured Subspecies: Poecile palustris palustris
Weight: 12g  /  Length: 11.5-12cm  /  Wingspan: 19cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The biggest issue with the Marsh Tit is that it looks effectively identical to the Willow Tit. On the Marsh Tit side of things this isn't necessarily a huge issue as it is the more common of the two so assuming "marsh" is relatively safe unless you have information to the contrary. They are also very much "flitty" birds - moving in and out of cover making it difficult to photograph them or even confirm their identity (a pale patch at the base of the beak being the most easy visual way). They are most frequently encountered in flocks of various tits.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
Subspecies: P. p. palustris, P. p. stagnatilis, P. p. kabardensis, P. p. italicus, P. p. brevirostris, P. p. ernsti, P. p. hensoni, P. p. hellmayri      

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Uncommon breeding species (41,000 territories)

 - Birds seen at Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Coal Tit (Periparus ater)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Periparus ("very tit") ater ("black/dark/dull")

Adult Coal Tit (subspecies P. a. britannicus) at Brigstock, Northants - March 2012

Featured Subspecies: Periparus ater britannicus

Weight: 8-10g  /  Length: 11.5cm  /  Wingspan: 17-21cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Coal Tit is probably the third most likely of the tits to turn up at your bird feeder, although trailing a long way behind Blue and Great. It is actually adapted to feed in conifers and as such it is probably more likely to come into the garden if you are relatively nearby some. It is most easily differentiated from other tits by the white streak on the back of its head, which easily separates it from the otherwise comparably coloured Marsh and Willow tits, although the more blue-tit like proportions and the blue-grey rather than brown back are the other big hints..

Related Species:

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Paridae

Genus: Periparus
Subspecies: P. a. hibernicus, P. a. britannicus, P. a. ater, P. a. vieirae, P. a. sardus, P. a. atlas, P. a. ledouci, P. a. cypriotes, P. a. moltchanovi, P. a. derjugini, P. a. michalowskii, P. a. phaeonotus, P. a. rufipectus, P. a. aemodius, P. a. pekinensis, P. a. kuatunensis, P. a. ptilosus, P. a. insularis, P. a. melanolophus   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common and widespread resident (760,000 territories)

 - Birds seen at a large number of sites, including but not limited to Rutland Water, Brigstock and Geddington.

SPAIN - Resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Single bird seen in Madrid.          

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto 

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Great Tit (Parus major)

OTHER NAMES: Ox-eye, Saw Whetter, Ackimule
Latin Etymology: Parus ("tit") major ("greater")

Adult Great Tit (subspecies P. m. newtoni) at Connaught Water, London - February 2022

Featured Subspecies: Parus major newtoni
Weight: 16-21g / Length: 12.5-14cm / Wingspan: 22-25cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

After the blue tit, the Great Tit comes into an easy second place in terms of most common tit species found in the UK. It is found widely in gardens, parks and woodland. It is also the largest tit in the UK (hence the name) and so may push other tit species off feeders, and has even been recorded predating them on rare occasion. They should be relatively easy to photograph, although I've found getting a nice photo harder than would be expected, as they seem to twitch around a bit when not in cover.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Parus
Subspecies: P. m. newtoni, P. m. major, P. m. kapustini, P. m. corsus, P. m. mallorcae, P. m. ecki, P. m. excelsus, P. m. aphrodite, P. m. niethammeri, P. m. terraesanctae, P. m. blanfordi, P. m. intermedius, P. m. bokharensis, P. m. ferghanensis, P. m. turkestanicus

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Very common resident in numerous locations (2,500,000 territories) 

 - Seen at sites including Rutland Water, Regent's Park, Brigstock, Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.

   

Further Notes: Arkive, BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

OTHER NAMES: Blue Tit, Tom Tit, Blue Spick
Latin Etymology: Cyanistes ("dark blue") caeruleus (cerulean)

Adult Eurasian Blue Tit (subspecies C. c. obscurus) at Kettering, Northants - January 2022

Featured Subspecies: Cyanistes caeruleus obscurus

Weight: 11g  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: 18cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The commonest British tit, the blue tit is widely spread, numerous and one of the commonest bird feeder visitors. It is probably more numerous in the countryside but really anywhere with sufficient amount of vegetation could probably support some. Photographing it at bird tables is probably your best bet, and bird tables at nature reserves should be able to get you some great closeups.

Further Information:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Cyanistes
Subspecies: C. c. caeruleus, C. c.obscurus, C. c. ogliastrae, C. c. balearicus, C. c. satunini, C. c. calamensis, C. c. orientalis, C. c. raddei, C. c. persicus   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Abundant resident (3,600,000 territories) and massively abundant Winter visitor (15,000,000 birds)

 - Seen at sites including Rutland Water,  Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Brigstock, Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.    

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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