Tits (Paridae)
Great Tit
Parus major
- Length
- 14 cm
- Weight
- 18 g
- Clutch
- 5–12 eggs
- Incubation
- 13–15 days
- Fledging
- 16–22 days
- Broods
- 1–2 per year
- Nest box
- 28 mm hole, 2–4 m up
Identification
- Glossy black head with white cheeks
- Yellow breast with a black central stripe — broader on males
- Green back
Ringing 'teacher-teacher' — over 40 call types recorded.
Diet and garden feeding
Insects in summer; seeds and nuts in winter.
- Best foods: Sunflower hearts, Peanuts, Suet, Mealworms.
- Great Tits readily use boxes; install them by late winter when pairs prospect.
Nesting
Tree hole or nest box.
Great Tits by country
England
Resident all year · nests April–June
Scotland
Resident all year · nests May–June
Wales
Resident all year · nests April–June
Northern Ireland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Ireland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Netherlands
Resident all year · nests April–June
Belgium
Resident all year · nests April–June
Germany
Resident all year · nests April–June
France
Resident all year · nests April–June
Denmark
Resident all year · nests April–June
Sweden
Resident all year · nests May–June
Norway
Resident all year · nests May–June
Finland
Resident all year · nests May–June
Spain
Resident all year · nests March–June
Portugal
Resident all year · nests March–June
Italy
Resident all year · nests March–June
Austria
Resident all year · nests April–June
Switzerland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Poland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Sources
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.