Long-tailed Tits in Scotland
When the Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) 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
- April–June
- Size
- 14 cm (half is tail), 9 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect long-tailed tits in Scotland
The Long-tailed Tit lives in Scotland all year round. Short days and regular snow inland; Scandinavian Bramblings, Fieldfares and Waxwings often arrive in numbers.
Cool maritime in the west, more continental and drier in the east; the Highlands are markedly colder.
Nesting in Scotland
In Scotland the Long-tailed Tit usually nests April–June. Nest site: domed ball of moss, lichen and cobweb in thorny shrubs. Clutches are 8–12 eggs, incubated for 15–16 days; chicks fledge after 15–17 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.
- The Long-tailed 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 long-tailed tits
Of the native plants we track for Scotland, these 8 provide food the Long-tailed 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
Tiny insects and spiders; some suet in winter.
- Best foods: Suet, Sunflower hearts.
- Feeders: Suet cage.
- Flocks of 10–20 roost huddled together; they rarely stay long at feeders.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are long-tailed tits in Scotland all year?
Yes — the Long-tailed Tit is resident in Scotland all year.
When do long-tailed tits nest in Scotland?
Typically April–June. Clutches are 8–12 eggs, incubated for 15–16 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help long-tailed tits in Scotland?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to Scotland and provide food or cover the Long-tailed Tit uses.
Long-tailed Tits in other countries
Other garden birds in Scotland
Sources
- Long-tailed Tit — RSPB bird guide
- Long-tailed 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.