The Blue Tit is a small acrobatic species and is very easily identified, as it is the only British bird with a blue crown. It is a common (but always welcome) garden bird coming to bird tables and hanging feeders of all descriptions. It is very fond of peanuts and fat balls and at one time was very well known for piercing foil milk bottle tops to get at the cream!
It is a widespread breeding bird that can be seen all over Britain and can be very agile in its pursuit of food. It will forage in hedgerows, trees and around urban areas searching for wheat, nuts, insects, and seeds.
Did you also know that like most birds, blue tits can see ultra-violet (UV) light? Studies have shown that the blue crown on their head’s glows brightly under UV light. An interesting thought is that the brighter the feathers on the crown then this could help the males when choosing a suitable partner. Brighter feathers could mean a female would make a better mother.
Blue Tits breed most successfully, we think, in deciduous woodland where they will have access to the greatest supply of caterpillars. They do choose to nest in built-up areas, but their clutch size will be smaller to compensate for the decrease in food availability in this area, as opposed to a clutch size of up to fourteen in a wooded area.
Many natural habitats are disappearing so garden birds are finding it increasingly hard to find nesting sites. If you can we urge you to put up a nest box to help.
The Wrendale Blue Tit Bird House would make a gorgeous addition to any garden. It has a 25mm hole which is just perfect for Blue Tits. It’s made from solid wood and printed using weather and light-resistant ink. It really is wonderfully unique.
If you’re wanting a more general nest box – which is suitable for a larger variety of birds- then the Multi Nest Box could be a better option for you.
The Multi Nest Box is made from FSC certified timber and has a 28mm and 32mm interchangeable front which also turns into an open-fronted nest box – so it’s ideal for the tit family and also robins. It comes with a removable base for easy cleaning - a great all-rounder!
Once you’ve helped your Blue Tits find a new home then your thoughts may turn to their food.
We would recommend Peanuts. They haul peanuts ‘beak over claw’ in their natural way of imitating pulling a leafy twig closer to inspect for caterpillars. It’s great to watch. During the spring and summer months we do recommend feeding peanuts from a mesh container.
Fledge is a new innovation in bird food, offering optimal foraging of energy and nutrients for busy parents and fledglings during the spring and summer breeding season. It’s been designed to feed alongside existing food to offer extra energy and nutrition. Fledge really will give your Blue Tits the nourishment they need.
Written by Angela
