Attracting Marsh Tits

It's a lucky person who has Marsh Tits visiting their feeders.  This elegant and shy little bird is uncommon and has declined by more than 50 per cent in the last 40 years.  Marsh and Willow Tits are so similar they are like peas in a pod and were only separated as different species in 1897.  Marsh Tits are the more common of the two in gardens though, especially if you live in a rural area with woodland nearby.  They have black caps, cute black beards, pale brown backs and cream cheeks, throat and breast – incredibly dapper little birds.  Don't confuse them with Coal Tits which have, amongst other differences, a white stripe down the back of the head – a great feature for identifying a Coal Tit.

Marsh Tits like gardens with plenty of shelter – shrubs, hedges and undergrowth and like Coal Tits they will take and hide food for later – or should that be larder…

What do Marsh Tits Eat?

Marsh Tits will eat a variety of seeds but love Sunflower Hearts the most. Peanuts Granules will also tempt them, so high energy seed mixes with sunflower hearts and peanut nibbles are good choices.

Top 3 foods for Marsh Tits:

• Sunflower Power            5 Star
• Im-peckable Peanuts     4 Star
• The Max Mix                   3 Star