The Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
This perky, agile little bird is the smallest tit and makes up for its inability to lay down the large stores of fat by hiding numerous pieces of food; such hoards being used when food is scarce. It lives in coniferous woodland from natural Scots Pine in the Highlands to plantations of exotics and even mature specimen trees in gardens. It is a regular visitor to bird feeders and sometimes lives in holes amongst roots in the ground and occasionally uses nest boxes. In winter they join with other tits to form flocks, which roam through woodlands and gardens in search of food. It is unusual for them to migrate. Often mistaken for the Great Tit, they can be distinguished by their long white nape patch. Males also have an extra stripe of white on the back of their heads.
Size: 4394px × 3139px
Location: Cheshire, England
Photo credit: © John Porter LRPS / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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