Tits

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Most of the tit family were originally woodland species, but two of them are now among our most familiar garden birds: the blue tit and great tit. Both take readily to nestboxes and bird feeders, not to speak of milk bottles left on the doorstep!

Long-tailed tits and coal tits also visit gardens, especially in the winter when natural food is scarce, but breed mainly in woodland. The latter prefers conifer woodland.

The willow tit and marsh tit are less common than any of these and are seen only rarely outside woodland. Both species are in slow decline in Essex.

The bearded tit is an exception in that it is only found in extensive stands of reed, for which reason it is also known as the reedling. It can be found in just a few Essex sites.