Crested tit

The crested tit (Parus or Llophophanes cristatus) is a common bird throughout its range, which is mainly northern Europe but includes much of France and Spain. Its only location in the United Kingdom is the region of native Scots pine in northern Scotland either side of Loch Ness and the Moray Firth, where there around 2,500 breeding pairs. Crested tits are resident birds throughout their range.


Appearance

At about 11-12 centimetres (4.5 inches) in length, the crested tit is similar to the blue tit in size. It has brown upperparts and tail and buff underparts. The face is off-white with a black bib and thin black lines curving round the cheeks and also forming a collar.

The speckled crest is the bird’s most distinctive feature. This is pointed and triangular and may either be raised or lie flat to the crown of the head. Both sexes have crests, and are indeed alike in plumage generally.


Habitat

Although it inhabits deciduous woodland in its southern European locations, the Scottish population of crested tits is confined to the ancient Caledonian pine forests during the breeding season, but they may also be seen in other conifers and woods of alder, birch and rowan in winter.


Behaviour and feeding

Crested tits forage for food mainly on the ground or in the low branches of trees, although they sometimes also feed in the tree crowns. When feeding they will hang upside down on tree branches to prise food from the bark. They will also visit bird tables.

Food consists of insects such as beetles, aphids, moths and caterpillars, plus spiders and seeds.

Outside the breeding season crested tits will form social groups and join other species such as coal tits and goldcrests, often acting as flock leaders as they roam the countryside. These flocks start to break up in February or March.

The call of the crested tit is either a thin high-pitched trill that is repeated in a rhythm, or a high “see see see”. It sings by running the calls together.


Breeding

The male crested tit displays by serenading the female and raising and spreading his crest and bowing. The male finds a nest site, which is normally a tree cavity or an abandoned squirrel’s drey. A cavity is sometimes excavated in a rotting tree stump or dead tree. The female lines the cavity with moss and other soft material.

In April a clutch of four to six eggs is laid which the female bird incubates on her own. These take up to 16 days to hatch and both parents feed the chicks until they are ready to leave the nest after 20-22 days.

A second brood is often raised, this being in June, with the same nest being used.


Conservation

The crested tit is not regarded as being a species under threat in global terms, although it is a protected bird in the United Kingdom, where its limited habitat needs to be preserved and managed. It therefore has amber conservation status within the UK.

© John Welford