Bold, bright and full of character…the Coal Tit is of course a familiar garden bird to countless birdwatchers back in the UK. It breeds right across Europe, and is a widespread year-long resident over most of the Iberian peninsula. Not the rarest Andalucian character by any means, but the shots are nice anyway!
Compact, active and acrobatic…the Coal Tit Periparus ater is one of Europe’s smallest species of bird. They can be found in most type of woodland but they are always closely associated with conifers, and the views Kiersten captured here are typical. They pick spiders, caterpillars and other insects from between the needles, and take nuts and seeds from trees in the autumn.
Their tiny body weight gives them an advantage in mixed, competitive flocks, and they can exploit the thinnest, outer branches…hovering and hanging upside down to reach their food. They often forage high in the canopy and can be a difficult spot, but good views can usually be gained, especially when other pine forest species remain elusive!
The Coal Tit’s vivacious nature is typical of the family as a whole…and for that reason is always worth persevering with. Roving, winter bands of tits often take other species along with them, and it was a busy pair of Coal Tits that brought us our Firecrest at Sierra de Huetor only a few days ago.
At first glance, the species has the look of a small, rather washed-out Great Tit. Confusion can occur: both species have striking black heads with contrasting whiter cheeks. The chest however, is buff not yellow, and the unmistakable black stripe of the Great Tit is entirely absent. Perhaps the best tip however is to watch out for the white patch on the back of the black neck..out of shot here, but a good clue in mixed groups.
Without a doubt…hardly our most enigmatic bird, but always worth that little bit of time!
