Great tit  (Parus major)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Biology

During summer, great tits tend to feed mainly on invertebrates taken from leaves, but in autumn the diet slowly changes, incorporating more seeds and fruits. By November, seeds make up a large proportion of the diet and in periods of low food availability they will enter gardens and feed on peanuts and other food provided by humans (4). Because of their larger size, great tits tend to feed on the ground more than other smaller tits (6).

Great tits nest in holes in trees, nest boxes, pipes and even letter boxes (5) (3) (6). The female lays between 6 and 11 eggs; these are incubated for up to 15 days and the young will have fledged after a further 16-22 days (2).

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