Alert Status:
Green
Estimated number of UK breeding
pairs: 1000
Listen to crested tit song:
The Crested tits’ body looks similar to that of other tits with brown/green back and white breast, but it can be easily distinguished from other tits by its head. It has a black collar that leads into a black throat and black eye stripes curve around each cheek. Finally, the characteristic black and white crest can either be upright on flattened on its head, either way, it is visible. Males and females of this species look identical.
Average Length: 11.5 cm
Average Lifespan: 2 Years
Average Wingspan: 17-20 cm
Like other tits, the Crested tit feeds mainly on invertebrates and pine seeds. In winter they can be seen in mixed species flocks with other tits, during this time they will also store food which they will use in early spring.
How to feed crested tits: On bird feeders
What to feed crested tits: Mealworms or small seeds such as sunflower seeds
Crested tits are monogamous and will pair for life. The females will excavate a hole in dead wood or use a nest box, which they line with moss, lichens, and hair to create a nest. In mainland Europe, individuals have been seen nesting in human-made structures. The female lays between 5 and 8 eggs which are incubated for 13-16 days before hatching and another 17-21 days before fledging. After fledging the parents still provide care for up to 3 weeks. Their breeding season is relatively short (March to June) and so will likely only produce 1 or maybe 2 broods a year.
In the UK Crested tits are only found in Northern Scotland, where during the 18th Century they suffered significant losses due to the destruction of Caledonian pine forests. While this species is present in both natural Caledonian pine forests and plantations, the density in Caledonian forests is ten times higher than in the plantations. To protect this species the expansion of existing Caledonian pine forests is essential. Populations living in plantations also suffer due to modern forestry techniques that involve the removal of dead wood which the bird uses for nesting.
Supplementary feeding on bird feeders.
Support the recovery of Caledonian pine forests in Scotland.
If you live near a plantation, provide nest boxes for Crested tit to nest in.
The crested tit has a very descriptive scientific name, Lophophanes cristatus, lophos meaning crest, phanes meaning showing, and cistatus meaning crested.
Babicová, N., Pavlíková, J., Babicová, R., & Krištín, A. (2021). Unusual breeding of the Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) and Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) in urban environment. Tichodroma, 33, 59–63. https://doi.org/10.31577/TICHODROMA.2021.33.6
BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Lophophanes cristatus. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/crested-tit-lophophanes-cristatus on 15/08/2023.
British Trust for Ornithology (no date) Crested tit | BTO - British trust for ornithology. Available at: https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/crested-tit (Accessed: 15 August 2023).
Jobling, J.A. (2011) The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird names: From aalge to zusii. London: Christopher Helm. P122 & 230.
Krama, T., Krams, R., Elferts, D., Sieving, K. E., & Krams, I. A. (2023). Selective selfishness in alarm calling behaviour by some members of wintering mixed-species groups of crested tits and willow tits. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0102
RSPB (no date) Crested Tit Bird Facts: Lophophanes Cristatus, The RSPB. Available at: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/crested-tit/ (Accessed: 15 August 2023).
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