The Diminutive 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 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 it to migrate. It is often mistaken for the Great Tit. Not as colourful as some of its relatives, the coal tit has a distinctive grey back, black cap, and white patch at the back of its neck. Its smaller, more slender bill than blue or great tits means it can feed more successfully in conifers.
Size: 3819px × 2864px
Location: Cheshire, England
Photo credit: © John Porter LRPS / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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