Tits · Perching birds
Azure Tit
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Cyanistes cyanus
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How to recognize it
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Body length 12–13 cm
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White head with a dark stripe through the eye
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Blue wings with a white crossbar
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White underside with a dark spot on the chest
About the species
White and blue are the main colors: its back and wings are blue, while the head and underside are white. A narrow dark stripe passes through the eye, and a white bar crosses each wing. Where it shares range with the Eurasian Blue Tit, its white crown contrasts with that species’ blue one.
During breeding, it stays deep in thick cover and is usually quiet. It nests in tree holes and calls with a quick "dee, dee, dee" or a scolding "churr." While feeding among shrubs and reeds, it may split tough stems to reach hidden insect larvae.
It lives in deciduous and mixed woods, scrub, and marshes, especially in damp places with willows, alders, or reeds. It feeds on insects, spiders, and larvae, adding berries and seeds in winter. Most remain within their breeding range year-round, though they may wander locally in winter.
Where to find
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At a reed marsh, watch the Azure Tit split reed stems to find larvae.
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In fruit orchards, scan the canopy for movement among branches as it searches for insects.
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In winter, in deciduous or mixed woodland, watch bark crevices as it searches for hidden food stores.
