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Great Tit (Parus major) German name(s): "Kohlmeise" Size: 12.5-15 cm; wing span 22.5-25.5 cm Body mass: 14-22 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.19-0.22

Europe: Family Group 16 Family Group 16 Table Eurasian Blue Tit Great Tit Coal Tit Marsh Tit Willow Tit Sombre Tit European Crested Tit Eurasian Penduline Tit Long-tailed Tit Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Great Tits are the largest of the Eurasian tits. Except for a prominent white cheek patch they have a black head, black throat and black central stripe down the front. The rest of the front (flanks, sides) is greyish-yellow. The nape of the neck and the mantle are olive-green merging into the grey shades of the wing coverts. The dark-grey wing feathers have light-grey edge lining. The outermost feather of the dark-grey tail also has a lighter outer edge. Males tend to have a wider black stripe down their front than females. The irises are black; the bill, legs and feet are all dark-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Great Tit at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Great Tit is available HERE . There are 15 races of Great Tits (after the separation from the Cinereous Tit and the Japanese Tit). Together these 15 races populate basically all of Europe, including the British Isles and southern Scandinavia, near-coastal North-west Africa, Asia Minor, parts of the Middle East and a wide swath along the width of temperate Asia, almost to the Pacific coast (for details see a field guide). Except for very harsh winters, Great Tits do not migrate. In Europe the only regions where Great Tits are NOT found are the highest parts of the Scandinavian mountain ranges and in far north-eastern Europe (North-west Russia). Great Tits have a preference for woodland, but are flexible in their requirements.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "major" D. Wilczynska reports spotting Great Tits, nominate race "major", regularly in the area of Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland. M. Thomas reports spotting Great Tits, race "major", regularly in Eltville, Hessen Germany. M. Eaton reports finding Great Tits, race "major", in Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, in June 2018. C. Pears spotted Great Tits, race "major", in Flam, Norway, in October 2024. In the past we used to see Great Tits, race "major", regularly in various parts of Germany, including e.g. the Eifel low mountain range, Rheinland-Pfalz. Race "newtoni" M. Eaton reports finding Great Tits, race "newtoni", in Hyde Park, London, England, in September 2019. C. Pears found Great Tits, race "newtoni", at Borrowdale, Lake District, England, in September 2023. Race "corsus" J. Pires reports spotting Great Tits, race "corsus", semi-regularly in various parts of Portugal.

Photos

Race "major"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male Great Tits, left, have a broader, continuous black frontal stripe than that of females, which can also be fragmentary. Males also tend to have a brighter yellow front than females.

MALE

Frontal view of a male Great Tit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Near-frontal view of a male Great Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male Great Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Family clan of Great Tits raiding food provided by an obliging human; male on the right (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, October 2015]

Direct comparison between a male Great Tit, back, with a Eurasian Blue Tit, front (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Great Tit; note the pale front and the partly fragmented central stripe
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Lateral view of a female Great Tit taking food from a feeder (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Great Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Lateral view of a Great Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Direct lateral comparison of a Great Tit with a Eurasian Blue Tit (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2026]

Near-dorsal view of a female(?) Great Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Dorsal view of a female(?) Great Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, October 2015]

Lateral view of a Great Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, October 2015]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a fledgling Great Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, August 2015]

Lateral view of a fledgling Great Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, August 2015]

Lateral view of a fledgling Great Tit begging for food (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, August 2015]

Race "newtoni"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male Great Tits, left, have a broader, continuous black frontal stripe than that of females, which can also be fragmentary. Males also tend to have a brighter yellow front than females.

MALE

Partly obscured near-lateral view of a male(?) Great Tit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a male Great Tit hanging off a bird feeder (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Borrowdale, Lake District, England, September 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a male Great Tit hanging off a bird feeder (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Borrowdale, Lake District, England, September 2023]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a male Great Tit (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Borrowdale, Lake District, England, September 2023]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female(?) Great Tit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]

Race "corsus"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male Great Tits, left, have a broader, continuous black frontal stripe than that of females, which can also be fragmentary. Males also tend to have a brighter yellow front than females.

MALE

Frontal/ventral view of a male Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2015]

Near-lateral view of a male Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, November 2016]

Lateral view of a male(?) Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2017]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a wet female Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Quinta da Vilarica, Assares, Tras os Montes, Portugal, May 2018]

Frontal view of a female Great Tit looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a female Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2023]

Near-lateral view of a female Great Tit issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a male Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a female Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2018]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Divor river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2025]

Near-lateral view of a Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2025]

Near-dorsal view of a Great Tit - note the missing white wing bar, which is in a moult (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montes Novos, Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2025]

Dorsal view of a Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Great Tit; note the pale front and the yellow gape (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2022]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2022]

Lateral view of a juvenile Great Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Pair/mob

Food, Diet

Near-frontal view of a male Great Tit with its prey, a larva (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Quinta da Vilarica, Assares, Tras os Montes, Portugal, May 2018]

Lateral view of a Great Tit with its prey, a grub (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Frontal view of a Great Tit visiting a bird feeder (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montes Novos, Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2025]

Near-lateral view of a Great Tit visiting a bird feeder (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montes Novos, Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2025]

Lateral view of a Great Tit visiting a bird feeder (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montes Novos, Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2025]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

greatit_dw_20160602.m4a	major (Poland)	Family Q&A	© DW
greatit_dw_20160816.m4a	major (Poland)	Q&A (pair)	© DW
greatit_dw_20170402_1.m4a	major (Poland)	Territorial calls(?)	© DW
greatit_dw_20170402_3.m4a	major (Poland)	Warning calls? (+ Eurasian Jay)	© DW
greatit_dw_20170215.m4a	major (Poland)	Various	© DW
greatit_dw_20170215_2.m4a	major (Poland)	Various	© DW
greatit_dw_20170112.m4a	major (Poland)	?	© DW
greatit_dw_20210914.m4a	major (Poland)	?	© DW
greatit_jp_20220114.m4a	corsus (Portugal)	Territorial calls?	© JP
greatit_jp_20200322_2.m4a	corsus (Portugal)	Territorial calls?	© JP
greatit_jp_20200322_4.m4a	corsus (Portugal)	Territorial calls?	© JP
greatit_jp_20230217.mp3	corsus (Portugal)	Territorial calls?	© JP
greatit_jp_20240915.m4a	corsus (Portugal)	Various (family clan)	© JP
greatit_jp_20200323.m4a	corsus (Portugal)	?	© JP
greatit_jp_20190606.m4a	corsus (Portugal)	? (+ Hoopoe)	© JP

More Great Tit sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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