Great tit (Parus major)
The Great tit is a highly gregarious and common garden bird. Related to the Blue tit, it features a prominent black crown with a characteristic black stripe down the throat and neck. With a yellow breast, olive green-tinged wings, and blue-ish tail, the Great tit is a very memorable bird.
In terms of taxonomy, the name Parus means “tit” and major means “larger”. Along with Cyanistes (of the Blue tit), Parus is associated with birds that display non-hoarding behaviour. It is the largest of the Tit family, just slightly smaller than a House sparrow, and displays behaviour that is common to larger birds i.e. ground feeding, which isn’t normally displayed among other birds of the tit family.
The Great tit song consists of a mechanical-sounding two-syllable song, which is comprised of single stuttering “pit”, “spick” and “chit” sounds. In terms of nesting, Great tits are known as a “cavity nester” species, meaning they often nest in crevices and holes in trees.
Natural intelligence

Great tits are known for their intelligence; so much so, in fact, that scientists were startled to discover the Great tit habit of solving problems through insight rather than by trial and error.
A great example of this in practice was in England in 1921 when it was noted that Great tits successfully learned to take off the lids of milk bottles to obtain the cream from the top. They’ve even been known to use pine needles as tools for extracting larvae from holes in trees.
Feeding Habits
During the spring breeding period, Great tits prefer to feed mainly on insectivores, spiders and flies, as well as insects taken from leaves (known as foliage gleaning). This typical diet comprises a high protein-rich glut of food, which is preferable for feeding their young. Watch them closely as they are popular birds in the garden due to their acrobatic manoeuvres while feeding on seeds and nuts.
However, throughout the year Great tits have a tendency to switch over to seeds and fruits, mainly taken from deciduous trees and shrubs. Throughout winter, Great tits will feed mainly on seeds, and will relish whole peanuts and other supplementary garden bird food. Interestingly, during particularly harsh and cold winter periods, Great tits can eat up to 44% their body weight in sunflower hearts and seeds.
“Over winter, Great tits may consume 44% of their body weight in sunflower hearts”, Wikipedia.
Due to their size, Great tits have a greater propensity than other tits for feeding on the ground. Over winter, Great tits flock together with their Blue tit cousins in the search for food. This is a phenomenon known as mixed-species foraging.
Breeding
Great tits seek out and discover breeding territory in January, and subsequently begin their defence of it. In the UK, breeding begins in April and May and the female will usually lay around 12 eggs. Both parents raise the chicks, and it’s quite typical for Great tits to raise two broods in a single year. Danger lurks around the corner, though, and their nests are often raided by woodpeckers, squirrels and weasels.
The chicks hatch blind and unfeathered, much like their Blue tit counterparts, yet once feathers grow the colour is very similar to that of their parents. This is quite unusual in that most chicks develop much duller-looking plumage throughout this early period.
Habitat
Great tits reside primarily in woodland areas, yet have readily adapted to park and garden environments, making the Great tit a regular garden visitor all year round. They will generally maintain the same territory, generation to generation, unless severely disrupted, and they are typically a non-migratory species. Great tits have been known, however, to migrate in sudden irruptions due to very low temperatures in northern territories such as Scandinavia.
We love watching the great tits feeding off the ground. The blue tits eat from the hanging feeders then the great tits hoover up what’s been dropped onto the floor. We do have a pair inspecting our nesting boxes at the moment so we’re hopeful they’ll choose to stay.
Does anyone have any idea how we can stop the starlings eating everything we put out. We use squirrel proof feeders but they still manage to gobble up everything.
We did stop putting out dried mealworms because the starlings loved them too much! But now they’re eating all the dat balls and seeds.
Can I put a notice up telling them to stop or is that discrimination!!!!!
I know what you mean about the Starlings. They swoop down in great numbers and devour all the good stuff. They have expensive tastes. I’ve not found a way around it. Will say they’re not fussed with general mixed bird seed, but I like to make up a mix by adding dried mealworms and suet sticks. They will raid the feeders throwing seed all around to get to the tasty bits.I do buy relatively cheaper Wilkinsons fat balls , this helps to distract them.
Earlier studies carried out by the team found that in the six weeks before egg laying male great tits usually start singing well before sunrise.
Could I have a nest in my bird box late September. Lots of activity around it. both birds flying in and out.
Why does the great tit keep coming to my car window and seems like he or she is trying to get in?
we have some that do the same, think they think it’s another bird looking at them
will a single great tit rear a brood on its own
Small bird nesting in my bird box has a white head white chest with a black stripe going down its chest, long tail, and moves very fast. what is it
Gillian, that may be a long-tailed tit, super cute, seem to live in large group in my area but only visit very occasionally sadly
I had a great tit lay 5 eggs in nest box all hatched and fledged. 2 weeks later a great tit came in next box and rebuild the nest and payed a egg is this comma
That’ laid a egg
We have a pair in a next box that I put up a couple of years ago. I love to watch their industrious vigour to build the nest and family.
It seems after around six weeks they have disappeared, can anyone tell me if they are likely to return for a second brood?
If you looked into the nest or you were a lot around it, they might have taken the babies and left to a new place.
I used to have a great tit at home, she was a wonderful pet. dont worry we didnt kidnap it, we found a newbourd great tit that fell out of its nest. It was impossible to put her in the nest which is why we adopted it. It is hard at first to take care of a newborn bird, but when she grew up it was easier.
Attention never take a bird out of its nest
We had some nesting in our bird house loads of activity never saw the babies then suddenly disappeared Sam happened 2 years ago is this normal?
We have been fortunate to have a pair of great ties nesting in one of the boxes in the garden. Its located about 6 – 7 feet off the ground and protected by the Pirocanther hedge. Unfortunately, a neighbours cat has somehow caught the male and killed it, we have seen the female entering and leaving the nest but she is very timid and her activity is vastly reduced. We can hear the chicks inside chirping but not sure if the female will continue to, or be able to continue to feed them or will it be to much for her and will she abandon them….?
Chris, what happened to mummy Great Tit this spring?
we have a nesting box in our garden and the great tit has just hatched 2 chicks as far as we no.its the first time we have had a box and to see the chicks and parents feeding is magical
I have a great tit who comes to my garden patio and just sits feeding for over ten minutes .is this usaul .he is very cute .
I have just posted about the female great tit which I have sadly found dead. I’m so sad about this as I’m sure she will have eggs which need to be cared for!!
Hi Linda
What area was this the great tit who has made a nest in a ashtray outside out flats has not been seen since the 21st she had eggs that ive had to put in an incubator as she never came back x
The great tit laid 8 eggs but only 7 eggs hatched & the 7 chicks fledged the nest only today. This is the third year they have been in the same bird box. Last year 8 eggs hatched & all fledged