Great Tits in Northern Ireland
When the Great Tit (Parus major) is present in Northern Ireland, when it nests, and which native Northern Ireland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Northern Ireland
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–June
- Size
- 14 cm, 18 g
- Nest box
- 28 mm hole, 2–4 m up
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect great tits in Northern Ireland
The Great Tit lives in Northern Ireland all year round. Rarely severe; winter thrushes and finches from Scandinavia and Iceland arrive from October.
Mild, wet and windy maritime climate with few temperature extremes.
Nesting in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland the Great Tit usually nests April–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 Northern Ireland plants for great tits
Of the native plants we track for Northern Ireland, these 8 provide food the Great 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.
Goldfinches extract the seeds from standing heads in autumn and winter.
Seed heads for Goldfinches and a nectar source for insects.
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 Northern Ireland all year?
Yes — the Great Tit is resident in Northern Ireland all year.
When do great tits nest in Northern Ireland?
Typically April–June. Clutches are 5–12 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days, with 1–2 per year.
Which native plants help great tits in Northern Ireland?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Teasel, Common knapweed are native to Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland
Sources
- Great Tit — RSPB bird guide
- Great 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.