Parus major

The Great Tit Parus major is a species of passerine bird in the paridae family. About 14 cm, it is unmistakable due to the black tie, more marked in males, on the yellow color of the chest. It can often be seen near the ground when searching for food or in the lower strata of the forest.

It usually lives in forests, especially deciduous, but also in pine forests and non-forest wooded environments. It nests in tree holes and any type of opening. Very adaptable, it lives in both formed forests and artificial environments. In the city it is found in parks, but also in seemingly inhospitable environments such as avenues with mature plane trees with many holes.

They are sedentary and outside the breeding season they are often found forming large groups mixed with other species of parids.

It nests mainly in tree holes, but can take advantage of any type of opening: from cracks in trees, walls or rocks to nest boxes, pots or abandoned cans. The nest is filled with a large amount of moss, hair, wool and some feathers. The clutches last between April and June and consist of between six and eight white eggs with reddish spots all over their surface. Thanks to this great adaptability we can also find it in non-forest environments, such as olive or almond groves, urban gardens, artificial trees, river and stream forests, holm oaks, etc. That is why its distribution is very wide in the Iberian Peninsula.

It is an insectivorous bird with a very broad regime. Among its prey, the processionary caterpillars, eggs and larvae of Vespa velutina, and other invertebrates considered pests stand out. You can also eat wild fruits and seeds rich in oils. It easily gets used to bird feeders from which it selects pipes.

The reproduction period can be very variable depending on the degree of good weather. It is generally between the months of March and July, but it can last until August. In the hatching, the eggs hatch between 6 and 7 chicks, which towards the month of August begin to form flocks and disperse, moving away from the birthplace.

playing your song: