Widely-regarded as one of the cutest garden visitors, our Long Tailed Tit bird guide will help you get to know this sociable bird.

At a staggering 9g, they weigh in at less than a £1 coin. You can find them travelling in big groups. Another unique thing about them is that they take part in cooperative breeding; helping out with each other’s young when the male doesn’t step up to the mark!

The long tailed tit is quite gregarious and noisy, though small they are excitable and tend to fly in flocks of about 20 birds.

To find out more about other birds, take a look at our interactive bird guide.

About

Long Tailed Tits can be identified by their fluffy plumage which is mostly black and white and their very long tail. Their distinctive colouring and a tail that is larger than its body makes this visitor easy to spot

Locations

Spotted across the UK

Habitat

Woodlands and gardens

Diet

Insects and small seeds. They also enjoy suet based products

Breeding

Breeding season takes place between March and June. They typically lay just one brood of 6-8 eggs which are either completely white or marked with little red specks. Nests are impressive as they are mostly enclosed with a small opening near the top. They are constructed from moss, cobwebs and feathers. Incubation takes 15-18 days

BTO Facts

According to Garden BirdWatch data, which has been collected since 1995, they are most frequently seen in February in around 38% of gardens. Long Tailed Tits have increased in gardens since Garden BirdWatch began. Mild winters are thought to be one of the reasons behind this increase. They also benefit from provisions in gardens, including food and nest boxes to roost in.