Crested Tits in Scotland
When the Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) is present in Scotland, when it nests, and which native Scotland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Scotland
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- May–June
- Size
- 11.5 cm, 11 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect crested tits in Scotland
The Crested Tit lives in Scotland all year round. Short days and regular snow inland; Scandinavian Bramblings, Fieldfares and Waxwings often arrive in numbers.
Highlands only — mainly Strathspey pinewoods.
Cool maritime in the west, more continental and drier in the east; the Highlands are markedly colder.
Nesting in Scotland
In Scotland the Crested Tit usually nests May–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 Scotland plants for crested tits
Of the native plants we track for Scotland, 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 Scotland all year?
Yes — the Crested Tit is resident in Scotland all year. Highlands only — mainly Strathspey pinewoods.
When do crested tits nest in Scotland?
Typically May–June. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 13–16 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help crested tits in Scotland?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to Scotland and provide food or cover the Crested Tit uses.
Crested Tits in other countries
Other garden birds in Scotland
Sources
- Crested Tit — RSPB bird guide
- Crested Tit — BTO BirdFacts
- Bird Atlas 2007–11 — British Trust for Ornithology
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.