Overview

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Paridae

Species: Cyanistes caeruleus

Distribution: widespread throughout the British Isles and Europe from southern Scandinavia, east to Moscow and south to North Africa.

Habitat: mainly broad-leaved woodland; less common in conifer forests. Also parks, farmland and gardens.

Description: small, bluish above and yellow underparts. Bright blue crown and white cheeks. Juveniles are much yellower than adults.

Size: 12cm (4.5in)

Life-span: oldest known bird reached 15 years.

Food: mainly insects and their larvae, spiders, seeds, fruit, grain, nuts and buds.

Although the blue tit is mainly a woodland bird it is one of our best-known garden birds. It readily feeds on nuts and scraps put out for it and its cheeky, acrobatic behaviour is a delight to watch.

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