Marsh Tit

The Marsh Tit is a small, brisk tit with a dark cap and a neat, compact look. Its plumage is plain rather than flashy, which makes the crisp black cap and small bib feel easy to remember.

It is nimble and restless, moving quickly through branches and shrubs and often hanging upside down for a moment while feeding. Its voice is sharp and ringing, and in spring the male has a surprisingly varied song, much richer than you might expect from such a modest-looking tit.

It lives in mature broadleaved woodland, damp woods, old parks, larger gardens, and places with thick undergrowth. It eats insects, spiders, seeds, and fruit, and stores food for later. In much of its range it stays year-round, though it may make short seasonal movements when food is scarce.