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Willow tit

The willow tit lives in wet woodland and willow carr in England, Wales and southern Scotland. It is very similar to the marsh tit, but has a distinctive pale panel on its wings.

Enw gwyddonol

Poecile montanus

Pryd i'w gweld

January to December

Species information

Ystadegau

Length: 12cm
Wingspan: 19cm
Weight: 12g
Average lifespan: 3 years

Statws cadwraethol

Classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021). Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.

Habitats

Ynghylch

The willow tit is strongly associated with wet woodland and willow carr growing in wetlands, bogs and around gravel pits. It is so similar to the marsh tit that it was not recognised as a separate species until 1897. Willow tits eat mostly insects, but will also eat berries and seeds when food is scarce in the winter. They use their small bills to excavate nest holes in decaying wood, which is unusual among the tit family. The female lays between six and eight eggs in a clutch.

Sut i'w hadnabod

The willow tit is black, pale brown and white in colour, and is easily confused with the marsh tit. However, it has a pale panel on the wings and a sooty-black cap and bib. It has a distinctive, nasal 'zee, zee, zee' call, which is often the most reliable way to identify it.

Dosbarthiad

A resident of England, Wales and southern Scotland.

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

Willow tits excavate their own nest holes in standing, decaying birch and willow, and use the resulting woodchippings as the base of their nest.