Fauna
Bird · GBIF taxon 2487871

Coal Tit

Periparus ater

Also known as Cole Tit, Black-crested Tit

Coal tits are energetic woodland songbirds that spend their days acrobatically gleaning seeds and insects from the highest needles of coniferous trees. Unlike many other small tits, they habitually hoard food, tucking single spruce or pine seeds into moss, bark crevices, and lichen patches to retrieve during lean winter spells. In autumn and winter, they readily join mixed-species foraging flocks, using high-pitched, piping contact calls to keep track of neighboring birds.

SongbirdForest DwellerActive
Coal Tit reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Luiz Lapa, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Conifer Seeds
  • Caterpillars
  • Spiders
Predators
  • Eurasian Sparrowhawk
  • Domestic Cat
  • Tawny Owl
ThreatsSevere winter weather and intensive forestry practices
HabitatsConiferous and mixed forests, parks, and subalpine woodlands
Life span2–4 years
Classification
  1. OrderPasseriformes
  2. FamilyParidae
  3. GenusPeriparus
  4. SpeciesPeriparus ater
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Conifer Scanning: Look high in mature spruce, pine, or fir canopies where they forage along outer branch tips.
  • Feeder Lures: Offer sunflower hearts or suet in winter, as they will quickly grab a seed and fly off to cache it.
  • Listening: Tune your ear to their thin, high-pitched contact calls and repetitive 'teach-teach' spring song.
Related species
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