Denmark · Resident all year

Blue Tits in Denmark

When the Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is present in Denmark, when it nests, and which native Denmark plants supply the food it depends on.

Status in Denmark
Resident all year
Nesting season
April–June
Size
12 cm, 11 g
Nest box
25 mm hole, 2–4 m up, facing north to east

When to expect blue tits in Denmark

The Blue Tit lives in Denmark all year round. Mild-to-cold winters with periods of frost; many Scandinavian migrants pass through.

Temperate maritime, windy and low-lying, surrounded by sea.

Nesting in Denmark

In Denmark the Blue Tit usually nests April–June. Nest site: hole in a tree or nest box lined with moss and feathers. Clutches are 7–13 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days; chicks fledge after 16–22 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.

  • Nest box: 25 mm hole, 2–4 m up, facing north to east. Put boxes up by February and clean them out between September and January.
  • Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Native Denmark plants for blue tits

Of the native plants we track for Denmark, these 8 provide food the Blue Tit uses:

Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna · Shrub

Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.

Ivy
Hedera helix · Climber

Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.

Elder
Sambucus nigra · Shrub

Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.

Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa · Shrub

Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.

Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum · Climber

Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.

Bramble
Rubus fruticosus agg. · Shrub

Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.

Teasel
Dipsacus fullonum · Perennial

Goldfinches extract the seeds from standing heads in autumn and winter.

Common knapweed
Centaurea nigra · Perennial

Seed heads for Goldfinches and a nectar source for insects.

Feeding in the garden

Caterpillars, aphids and spiders; seeds and nuts in winter.

  • Best foods: Sunflower hearts, Peanuts (mesh feeder only), Suet.
  • Feeders: Tube feeder, Peanut mesh, Suet cage.
  • A pair needs around 10,000 caterpillars to raise one brood — native trees matter more than feeders in May.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked

Are blue tits in Denmark all year?

Yes — the Blue Tit is resident in Denmark all year.

When do blue tits nest in Denmark?

Typically April–June. Clutches are 7–13 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days, with 1 per year.

Which native plants help blue tits in Denmark?

Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Teasel, Common knapweed are native to Denmark and provide food or cover the Blue Tit uses.

What nest box does the Blue Tit use?

25 mm hole, 2–4 m up, facing north to east.

Blue Tits in other countries

Other garden birds in Denmark

Sources

  1. Blue Tit — RSPB bird guide
  2. Blue Tit — BTO BirdFacts
  3. Danish Breeding Bird Atlas — DOF BirdLife

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.