Coal Tit

Coal Tits are slightly smaller than Blue Tits, with olive-grey upperparts and white-buff underparts. Although in general appearance they are similar to both the Willow and Marsh Tit, they have a characteristic head pattern, with black bib, white cheeks and black cap that extends down to the neck at the sides.

In the middle of this black cap, running from just below the below the top of the head back down to the neck is a rectangular white patch.

Coal Tits are often regarded as being a species of coniferous woodland, and while  they do nest at higher densities in coniferous woodland than deciduous woodland, Coal Tits do occur in many other habitats, including gardens. A regular visitor to most peanut feeders, they will take and store food for eating later. In winter they join with other tits to form flocks which roam through woodlands and gardens in search of food

Coal Tits begin nesting slightly earlier than Blue Tits and some time before Great Tits.