Netherlands · Resident all year

Marsh Tits in Netherlands

When the Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) is present in Netherlands, when it nests, and which native Netherlands plants supply the food it depends on.

Status in Netherlands
Resident all year
Nesting season
April–June
Size
11.5 cm, 12 g
Nest box
25 mm hole

When to expect marsh tits in Netherlands

The Marsh Tit lives in Netherlands all year round. Mild, wet winters; hard frosts bring large movements of thrushes and finches.

Temperate maritime, flat and low-lying, with wind off the North Sea.

Nesting in Netherlands

In Netherlands the Marsh Tit usually nests April–June. Nest site: natural tree hole. Clutches are 7–9 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days; chicks fledge after 17–20 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.

  • Nest box: 25 mm hole. 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 Netherlands plants for marsh tits

Of the native plants we track for Netherlands, these 8 provide food the Marsh Tit uses:

Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna · Shrub

Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.

Ivy
Hedera helix · Climber

Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.

Elder
Sambucus nigra · Shrub

Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.

Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa · Shrub

Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.

Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum · Climber

Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.

Bramble
Rubus fruticosus agg. · Shrub

Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.

Common knapweed
Centaurea nigra · Perennial

Seed heads for Goldfinches and a nectar source for insects.

Wild cherry
Prunus avium · Tree

Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.

Feeding in the garden

Insects, seeds and beechmast; hoards food.

  • Best foods: Sunflower hearts.
  • Feeders: Tube feeder.
  • A declining bird of mature broadleaved woodland; gardens next to old woods are best.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked

Are marsh tits in Netherlands all year?

Yes — the Marsh Tit is resident in Netherlands all year.

When do marsh tits nest in Netherlands?

Typically April–June. Clutches are 7–9 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days, with 1 per year.

Which native plants help marsh tits in Netherlands?

Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to Netherlands and provide food or cover the Marsh Tit uses.

What nest box does the Marsh Tit use?

25 mm hole.

Marsh Tits in other countries

Other garden birds in Netherlands

Sources

  1. Marsh Tit — RSPB bird guide
  2. Marsh Tit — BTO BirdFacts
  3. Vogelatlas van Nederland — Sovon

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.