Meet the Blue Tits

Blue Tit: cyanistes caeruleys

blue tit at feeder by annmackiemiller

The little blue tit is one of Britain's favourite garden birds they delight people with their agile feeding habits.

At a little over 4 inches long with a wingspan of 6-8 inches this little charmer weighs no more than 0.75 ounces. They have a distinctive blue cap and yellow breast, black eye stripe and white cheek patches. These birds will happily nest in nest boxes provided they aren't too near to other nesting boxes - I'm sure something to do with the available food supplies.

They LOVE caterpillars and other insect, like pecking at nuts in a feeder and adore suet balls.

They will lay anything from 6 to 16 eggs with the chicks hatching in around 15 days and fledging in 20.

juvenile blue tit with nut by annmackiemiller

Blue Tit Singing

blue tit by annmackiemiller

moulting blue tit by annmackiemiller

They moult every year getting rid of old feathers and replacing them with new. They can look particularly scruffy when they do and when you see them with their own young you think they have been run ragged. Mind you, they have been feeding the young in the nest for weeks so have a right to feel scruffy.  Both adults feed the young in the nest and since eat chick can eat the equivalent of 100 caterpillars each per day, they need to make a lot of trips. 

Young blue tit with moulting adult blue tit by annmackiemiller

adult blue tit in the foreground with young blue tit

newly fledged blue tit - they still have the feeding gape

young blue tits in the rain by annmackiemiller

How to Eat a Nut by Little Tommy Tit

I was fascinated to watch this young blue tit make a meal from a simple peanut. 

first you catch it

secure with feet

check for siblings

chow down

all gone!