Blue tit , Cyanstes caeruleus - a photo on Flickriver

The Blue Tit is a popular and easy to recognise garden favourite. With its small size and distinctive blue and yellow plumage , the Blue tit is a regular garden visitor that’s wide spread throughout the British Isles and mainland Europe. The Blue Tit is a member of the Tit family of birds , Paridae . Usually resident , the bird does not migrate and in fact most stay within a short distance from where they hatch , typically less than 20 miles.

The Blue Tit is around 12 cm long with a wingspan of 18 cm and weighs between 11- 20 g . With a blue crown and dark line passing through the eye, with white cheeks to the chin. The forehead and a bar on the wing are white. The nape, wings and tail are blue and the back is yellowish green. The underparts is mostly yellow with a dark line down the abdomen. Both male and female adult birds have a similar appearance.

The Blue tit will nest in any suitable hole in a tree, wall, or stump, or an artificial nest box, competing with Great Tits and House Sparrows for nesting sites. The same hole ( nesting site ) is returned to every year, and when one pair dies another pair will takes possession of the nesting site. It is estimated that there are 3,300,000 breeding pairs in the UK.

It is thought that as they get older, they get brighter plumage with each subsequent moult.

The successful breeding of chicks is dependent on sufficient supply of green caterpillars as well as satisfactory weather. Breeding seasons may be affected badly if the weather is cold and wet between May and July, particularly if this coincides with the emergence of the caterpillars on which the nestlings are fed.

Eggs are small in size, 14–18 mm in diameter. The egg size does vary, depending mostly on the size of individual females and habitat . The nesting material is usually moss, wool, hair and feathers, and the eggs are laid in April or May. The number in the clutch can be very large with seven or eight eggs laid by a single female. During the incubation period, female blue tits perform all of the incubation, however the male feeds the female during this time.

The bird is a protective parent, hissing and biting at any intruder. When protecting its eggs it raises its crest, but this is a sign of excitement rather than anger, for it is also elevated during nuptial display. The survival rate for young in their first year is about 35% and for adults the survival rate is about 50% . The typical lifespan for an adult is only around three years.

The Blue Tits diet is made up of small insects and spiders during the summer months supplemented by fruit , nuts and the young buds of trees and plants. The bird has adapted and evolved the ability to digest milk and cream and is an acrobatic favourite on bird feeders up and down the country.

Read more at www.wildonline.blog

Taken in: UK / England / Ogbourne St. George / Ogbourne Saint George (show map)

Taken on: September 12, 2025

Tags:

bird

birding

blue

birds wildlife

British birds

British wildlife

canon

European

#gardenbirds

#lovenature

#lovewildlife

nature

tit

tits

wild

wild-birds

Wildlife

#wildlifenature

#wildlifephotography

Wildonline

Wildonline.blog « less

Sets appears in: • BLUE TIT

Groups appears in: • Birds • Backyard Birds more » • Birds , Birds Birds • Bird Fanatics! (No Limits) • Awesome Nature • Beauty of Nature • *I Love Birds* • "Bird Brained" • #1 Nature & Wildlife Photographers' Corner • BiRDS are Beautiful • Birds of the world • ***The Wildlife Photography • Birds From Around The World • Birds of Britain and Ireland • Birds of the British Isles • Backyard Bird Watching • Beautiful Mother Nature • Birds (no rules) • BIRDS ARE BEAUTIFUL. • Birds and Wildlife UK • * Birds of Britain * • * Wild Birds * • Bird Watchers • birds from all over the world • Birds of all sorts. • Birds Photos - Check out the new discussions! • All birds all the time • *Nature Pics* • BEST OF BRITISH NATURE POST1 COMMENT 2 • Birding In The Wild • "World Nature & Wildlife Closeup" Post 1/C3 • **Friends of a Feather** • Birds birds birds birds! • Birds UK • Birds & Animals Group • Birds Birds Birds ! (Check out the new discussion) • birds birds birds and more birds • 3 Counties Wildlife (Hampshire,Wiltshire and Dorset). • Birds and Wildlife Only!!! • Birds and Beasts • Birds And Words! Your best BIRD photos with a great story! • BirdWatching Magazine • BBC Springwatch (Official) • Birds and more birds • Birds Worldwide ! • Birds of Happiness • Bird Perfect (Moderated) • *Earth *Nature *Life • Birds of the world/ Oiseaux du monde • bird world • AWESOME BIRDS ONLY ! (Award 2 Please) • 4 Birds only • :: | Bird Photography |:: • Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust • ***TITS ONLY*** • BBC Wildlife aspirations • Bird Portraits • Amateur Wildlife and Nature • Birds, all sizes, colors, any species....:) • Birds & Bees, all Flowers & Trees. • Bird Nerd Herd • Bird Photo of the Week • Birds & More Birds • " BIRDS OF PLANET EARTH (NO B&W, BIRDS ONLY) • All Wildlife Photography • "Watch The Birdie" P2 C2***Only birds*** NO OTHER IMAGES • Birding World • Birds and Animals Photography • Bird Photos United • Birding for everyone! (Field Guide of the World) • * Wonderful World of Wildlife * • Birds with 50+ Faves or Comments • Best Birds Worldwide • Birds birds everywhere • Birds of Britain and Europe • !Birds Everywhere Any Time! • Best of British Wildlife • -- Only Birds! • Wildlife online • Birds, Birds ... More Birds • Anything & Everything—Nature « less

Camera: Canon EOS R5, f/7.1, 1/1000 sec, 500mm, ISO 3200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS R5
Lens:	Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Aperture:	f/7.1
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/1000)
Focal Length:	500mm
ISO:	3200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Show full info

Stats: 6,038 views / 17 comments

go back