Great Tits in Finland
When the Great Tit (Parus major) is present in Finland, when it nests, and which native Finland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Finland
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- May–June
- Size
- 14 cm, 18 g
- Nest box
- 28 mm hole, 2–4 m up
When to expect great tits in Finland
The Great Tit lives in Finland all year round. Long, dark, snowy winters; feeding is a widespread national habit.
Boreal continental, forested and lake-strewn.
Nesting in Finland
In Finland the Great Tit usually nests May–June. Nest site: tree hole or nest box. Clutches are 5–12 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days; chicks fledge after 16–22 days, and pairs raise 1–2 per year.
- Nest box: 28 mm hole, 2–4 m up. 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 Finland plants for great tits
Of the native plants we track for Finland, these 8 provide food the Great Tit uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
Cones hold seed that Siskins and Goldfinches feed on all winter.
Hazelnuts for Nuthatches, Jays and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Pine seed for Coal Tits, Crested Tits and Crossbills.
Cone seed for Siskins and Coal Tits; Goldcrest nesting habitat.
Feeding in the garden
Insects in summer; seeds and nuts in winter.
- Best foods: Sunflower hearts, Peanuts, Suet, Mealworms.
- Feeders: Tube feeder, Peanut mesh, Suet cage.
- Great Tits readily use boxes; install them by late winter when pairs prospect.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are great tits in Finland all year?
Yes — the Great Tit is resident in Finland all year.
When do great tits nest in Finland?
Typically May–June. Clutches are 5–12 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days, with 1–2 per year.
Which native plants help great tits in Finland?
Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Bramble, Silver birch, Alder, Hazel, Scots pine, Norway spruce are native to Finland and provide food or cover the Great Tit uses.
What nest box does the Great Tit use?
28 mm hole, 2–4 m up.
Great Tits in other countries
Other garden birds in Finland
Sources
- Great Tit — RSPB bird guide
- Great Tit — BTO BirdFacts
- Finnish Bird Atlas — Finnish Museum of Natural History
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.