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Trees- ShrubsBlue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
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There is some disagreement about the classification of the Blue Tit, which is sometimes placed in its own genus as Cyanistes caeruleus. Worldwide, there are 45 species of birds placed in the Parus genus, though this may change with new phylogenetic analyses (1). A closely related species of P. caeruleus is P. major (Great Tit). It has a bold pattern of black and white on the head, while the rest of its plumage is similar to the Blue Tit (2).
The Blue Tit has a bright blue cap, a black eye stripe, white cheeks, greenish and blue upperparts and yellow under-parts (3). It often has a thin dark central streak down its belly (4). In flight, white bars can be seen on blue wings (3). It is a small bird, between 10 cm and 12 cm in length and weighing 9 to 12 g (4) (5). The female is a bit duller than the male but otherwise they look very similar (6). The juvenile has a pale yellow-grey head cap which then turns greenish before it becomes blue (4) (3).
Calls are a rapid “tseee tseee” and “tsit” or jittery, scolding “churrrr” and “cherr err err” (3) (6). Song is a continuous, trilled “tseet-tsee-tsisisisisis” (4). It will make loud hissing sounds if disturbed in its nest.
They are noisy birds with fast undulating flight and sudden stops on perches (4). They are socially monogamous but both male and female may engage in extra-pair matings. There is high singing activity amongst male Blue Tits during dawn. This dawn chorus may have multiple social functions, from mate attraction, guarding a territory, guarding a mate, to soliciting extra-pair copulations (7).
They can be found in deciduous or mixed woodlands, orchards, parks, gardens; in autumn they can also be seen amongst reedbeds and in winter at bird tables (3). Across Europe, their highest densities are in mature Oak woodlands (Querus spp.) (8).
Blue Tits nest in holes in trees and walls, and in nest boxes. The female makes a nest of moss, grass, strips of fibre, and lines it with feathers (6). They breed in April and May. One brood of six to 16 eggs are laid and incubated by the female for approximately two weeks (6). In Southern Europe, two broods may be laid. Both the male and female feed the chicks until they fledge at 18 to 20 days (6).
Blue Tits are widespread residents across most of Europe, which constitutes more than 75% of its global range. Birds from high altitudes will move to lower land for the winter (8). The European breeding population is extremely large, estimated at over 20 million pairs (9). In Greece, the population is estimated between one and five million individuals, where, along with the Chaffinch, it is the most numerous breeding bird (8).
Most populations are residents, except for those in the more Northern regions, which in some years migrate Southwest during September and October (3). Others are altitudinal migrants, temporarily moving to lower regions (8).
The Blue Tit’s diet consists mainly of insects and insect larvae, and spiders, seeds and berries. They feed their chicks primarily on caterpillars. The Blue Tit may prey on the larvae and adult of the Black-veined White Butterfly (Aporia crategi).
IUCN Red List = Least Concern (1)
Description written by Maite Guignard (2009)
(1) IUCN (2008) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [online] Available:
http://www.iucnredlist.org [date accessed: 14/05/2009]
(2) Sterry. P. (2000) Complete Mediterranean Wildlife, Harpers Collins Publishers, London
(3) Jonsson. L. (1992) Birds of Europe, Christopher Helm Ltd., London
(4) Hume. R. (2002) RSPB Complete Birds of Britain and Europe, Dorling Kindersley, London
(5) Mullarney. K., Svensson. L., Zetterstrom. D., Grant. P.J. (1999) Collins Bird Guide, Harper Collins Publishers, London
(6) Perrins. C. (1987) Collins New Generation Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe, Collins, London
(7) Kempenaersa. B., Verheyena. G.R. and Dhondia. A. A. (1997) Extra pair paternity in the blue tit (Parus caeruleus): female choice, male charateristics, and offspring quality, Behavioural Ecology 8(5): 481-492
(8) Handrinos. G., and Akriotis. T. (1997) The Birds of Greece, Christopher Helm Ltd., London
(9) Bird Life International (2009) Species factsheet: Parus caeruleus [online] Available:
http://www.birdlife.org [date accessed: 15/05/2009]
