Crested Tits in France
When the Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) is present in France, when it nests, and which native France plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in France
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–June
- Size
- 11.5 cm, 11 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect crested tits in France
The Crested Tit lives in France all year round. Mild in the west and south; hard frosts in the north-east and mountains.
Oceanic in the west, continental in the east, Mediterranean along the south coast and Alpine in the mountains.
Nesting in France
In France the Crested Tit usually nests April–June. Nest site: hole it excavates in rotten pine stumps. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 13–16 days; chicks fledge after 18–22 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.
- The Crested Tit does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- 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 France plants for crested tits
Of the native plants we track for France, these 8 provide food the Crested Tit uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Seed heads for Goldfinches and a nectar source for insects.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Feeding in the garden
Insects and conifer seed.
- Best foods: Sunflower hearts, Suet.
- Feeders: Tube feeder, Suet cage.
- In the UK found only in the Caledonian pinewoods of the Scottish Highlands.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are crested tits in France all year?
Yes — the Crested Tit is resident in France all year.
When do crested tits nest in France?
Typically April–June. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 13–16 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help crested tits in France?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to France and provide food or cover the Crested Tit uses.
Crested Tits in other countries
Other garden birds in France
Sources
- Crested Tit — RSPB bird guide
- Crested Tit — BTO BirdFacts
- Atlas des oiseaux de France métropolitaine — LPO
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.