How do you recognize the different types of tits in your garden?

Tit are (very) common in the garden. So common that they are difficult, if not impossible, to tell apart. Here’s a practical and handy little guide to help you spot the 7 most common species in France.

blue tit

Also called Cyanistes caeruleus, the blue tit is easy to spot in our green spaces, regardless of the season. This bird is recognizable by its hat, its wing and its blue tail, its white head, its black band around the eyes, its green back and its yellow breast. [1] To welcome him to your garden, plant hedges, install nesting boxes, feeders and water troughs.


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coal tit

The great tit (or released major) visits our parks and gardens daily. In addition, it is one of the most common tits we encounter in France. And the good news is that you can observe it in the city as well as in the countryside. Unlike the species just presented, it can be recognized by its crown, throat and black tie. His cheeks, meanwhile, are white and his feathers yellow-green. [1]


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willow tit

In terms of plumage, the Willow Tit (also called Poecile montanus), is duller than the two previous types. Indeed, its crown and neck are black, its cheeks and its chest white, while its entire body is gray-brown. But like his cousins, he can be sighted all over the area. [3]


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Marsh Tit

Not easy to distinguish the swamp tit (Poecile palustris) of the Willow Mees. These two species that regularly appear in our gardens are indeed very similar. [4] Their plumage is nearly identical (the bog tit’s cheeks are tinged light brown as you get closer to the neck), but their song is quite different. Here is the song of the swamp tit and that of the willow tit.


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coal tit

Another species that you can easily see in your garden and in parks: the great tit or Periparus ater† Contrary to what the name suggests, this bird is not completely black, as only its throat and crown are of this color. Its cheeks are white, its body is light brown and its wings are blue-gray and white spotted. Note that the great tit has declined by -42% in 30 years (from 1989 to 2013), giving it the status of a near-threatened species. [5]


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long tailed tit

Also called long-tailed orite or . mentioned Aegithalos caudate, this species is distinguished by its plump body, black, white and pink wings and tail and pink breast. If you look at it with binoculars, you can see an orange line above his eyes. [6] For a chance to cross it, head to the woods or your yard (provided it’s wooded enough).


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crested tit

Finally the last species and not just any one because it is the crested tit (Lophophanes cristatus) easily recognizable by its little punk look. It must be said that this bird looks great with its tousled white and black crest. On the plumage side, its throat is black and its white cheeks marked with a black comma surrounded by a white collar. The rest of his body is brown. This bird likes both the sea and the mountains as it is found up to about 2500 meters above sea level.


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Something to impress your family and friends! Did you like this article? This is how you recognize the birds in your garden.

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