Urban birds at Hull. 60 Coal Tit

 

The Coal Tit is less widely known than its more common relatives, the Blue Tit and Great Tit. It is a smaller bird than those, with a black cap, large white cheeks and a white band at the back of the head. Unlike Marsh and Willow Tits, which are extremely rare birds in Hull, the bib under the bill is large and triangular. The chest is creamy brown, the back and wings are grey and two white wing bands are clear. The species has an affinity for conifers, dexterously extracting seeds from cones of spruce, pine and other species, and small insects and spiders from between needles at the end of branches. Coal Tits will also frequent parks and gardens, where they form mixed winter flocks with Long Tailed tits, Blue and Great Tits and Goldcrests. Coal Tits are hoarders: they cache food in different locations around the area to retrieve later. This explains how, when visiting gardens, they dart to and from garden feeders, as they don't stop to feed like other birds do, but just cache the seeds, particularly sunflower seeds. Coal Tits sing year round, and they can be very vocal in the winter. Their song is similar to the great tit, but with a higher pitch and a more squeaky tone.

18 March 2025. Ella Street.

Coal Tit singing. East Park, 24 March 2025.

Feeding on pine cones. Western Cemetery, 23 April 2023.

Distribution and status in Hull. Never common, but a widespread resident species in Hull. It is more widespread, and probably more noticeable in the winter months. Resident numbers might be increased by immigrants from the continent in 'irruption' years. It breeds in small numbers in Hull, particularly in large gardens and parks. Judging from the impression of a very rare bird before 2000, it is likely this species has increased in Hull in recent decades.

Coal Tit fledgling. University of Hull. 29 May 2012.

Coal Tit on garden feeder. 9 March 2012.

Conservation and management. Unlike the other smaller tits, the Willow and Marsh Tit, the Coal Tit is not a bird of conservation concern, it is Green Listed. Widespread conifer planting, both for timber and also in gardens in areas with no native conifers probably have helped this species, which is now stable in numbers. It is subordinate to both Blue and Great Tit, and probably outcompeted from nest boxes.

More Information

Broughton, R.K. 2002. Birds of the Hull area.

(top shot 15 December 2025)