Periparus ater, Coal Tit

Common Name: Coal Tit

Periparus ater, more commonly known as the Coal Tit, is approximately 12cm in length, having a black crown and throat, white sides to the face and a white nape. Wings are a mid grey with two white marks and the undersides a dirty off-white.

They have a wide range of calls, many of which are superficially similar to those of the Great Tit (Parus major), the commonest being a bell-sounding "teacher-teacher-teacher". Omnivorous, usually searching for insects and spiders in the trees and for seeds on the ground, and not such a common visitor to bird tables and feeders as Blue and Great Tits.

Usually nests in some sort of hole, very much like a Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), although will use nestboxes on occasion. Found throughout the UK in woods, parks and gardens, especially those containing conifers. Historically only a garden visitor in winter, but from personal experience this seems to be changing somewhat.

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