How to identify the Willow Tit

To correctly identify the Willow Tit (Poecile montanus), check each of these features. Birds can be tricky: habit, habitat, and call often confirm a sighting that a single photo cannot.

Size at a glance

Length

11.5-13 cm

Wingspan

17-21 cm

Weight

9-12 g

Physical features to check

1. 1

   Plumage

   Overall feather coloration and pattern.

   Upperparts are dull grey-brown, underparts are buffish-white, often with a faint buff wash on the flanks. The crown and nape are dull sooty-black, extending to a small, neat black bib under the chin. Cheeks are dull white. Wings and tail are dark grey-brown with paler edges to the flight feathers, but lacking the distinct pale panel seen on Marsh Tits.

2. 2

   Beak shape

   Shape and color of the bill: a key field mark.

   Small, conical, and sharp; black in color.

3. 3

   Eye color

   Iris color and any distinctive eye markings.

   Dark brown.

4. 4

   Leg color

   Leg and foot color.

   Dark grey to blackish.

5. 5

   Distinguishing features

   Standout features that separate this species.

   Dull sooty-black cap (not glossy like Marsh Tit), duller plumage overall, and a distinctive pale wing panel (formed by pale edges to secondaries) that is less prominent or absent in Marsh Tit. The bib is typically smaller and neater than that of a Marsh Tit. The most reliable distinction is often by call.

6. 6

   Juvenile appearance

   How young birds differ from adults.

   Similar to adults but generally duller, with a less intense black cap and bib, and often a more yellowish wash to the underparts.

7. 7

   Seasonal changes

   Plumage variation between breeding and non-breeding seasons.

   No significant seasonal plumage changes. Plumage may appear slightly fresher after the autumn moult and more worn by late spring.

8. 8

   Sexual dimorphism

   How males and females differ.

   None; sexes are outwardly identical in plumage and size.

Key field marks

• Cap Color. Look for a dull, sooty-black cap that appears matte, not glossy. This contrasts with the glossy cap of the Marsh Tit.
• Bib Size. Observe the black bib under the chin; it is typically smaller and neater than that of a Marsh Tit.
• Wing Panel. Check for a subtle, pale panel on the folded wing, formed by pale edges to the secondary feathers. This is often absent or much less distinct on the Marsh Tit.
• Vocalizations. Listen carefully to its calls. The harsh, buzzing 'chay-chay-chay' call is the most reliable field mark to distinguish it from the Marsh Tit. Its song is a mournful, descending 'tsee-tsee-tsee'.
• Habitat Preference. Consider the habitat. Willow Tits prefer damper, more open woodlands with decaying wood, while Marsh Tits often favor drier, more mature deciduous forests.

Explore the Willow Tit