About the Coal Tit
The coal tit is a passerine bird in the tit family, Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder in forests throughout the temperate to subtropical Palearctic, including North Africa. The black-crested tit is now included in this species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The coal tit is 10–11.5 cm in length, and has a distinctive large white nape spot on its black head. The head, throat and neck of the adult are glossy blue-black, contrasting with the off-white sides of the face, which are tinged grey or yellow depending on subspecies. The brilliant white nape is another striking feature, as are the white tips of the wing coverts, which appear as two wingbars. The underparts are whitish, shading from buff to rufous on the flanks. The bill is black, the legs are lead-coloured, and the irides are dark brown. Juvenile birds have duller plumage than adults.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Coal Tit sounds like
Where the Coal Tit lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Myanmar (Burma), Guernsey.
When to see the Coal Tit
Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Yellow-bellied TitPeriparus venustulusThe yellow-bellied tit is a bird in the family Paridae.
Rufous-vented TitPeriparus rubidiventrisThe rufous-vented tit is an Asian songbird species in the tit and chickadee family (Paridae).
Elegant TitPeriparus elegansThe elegant tit is a species of bird in the tit family Paridae endemic to the Philippines.
Learn the Coal Tit in BeakBrain
Photo and call practice, free in any browser.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.