Bird guide · Periparus ater
Coal Tit
What the coal tit eats, where it lives, when it comes to feeders and how to recognise it – with sightings from across the UK.
- Season
- Year-round resident
- Size
- 4.3 in (11 cm)
- Eats
- sunflower hearts, peanuts, suet
- Feeds
- tube, hopper, suet cage
- Most common
- Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
Food
What do coal tits eat?
At feeders, coal tits take sunflower hearts, peanuts, suet.
A regular visitor that takes food away and stores it to eat later.
Feeder that suits it
A tube or hopper feeder with sunflower seed or sunflower hearts.
Range
Where do coal tits live?
Found in woodland throughout Britain and Ireland, especially conifers, and in gardens. By share of all bird sightings, coal tits are most common in Northern Ireland (1.6%).
Nations where coal tits are most common
- Northern Ireland1.6%
- Scotland1.0%
- Wales0.8%
- England0.7%
Share of all bird sightings in each nation that are coal tits, 2019–2024.
Season
Does the coal tit migrate?
Year-round resident. Across the UK it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in January.
Share of all bird sightings in the UK that are coal tits, by month.
Identification
How to identify the coal tit
Adults: Black cap and bib, white cheeks, a white nape patch and an olive-grey back with pale wing bars.
Size: 4.3 in (11 cm)
Nesting
Does the coal tit use nest boxes?
Yes. Nests in tree hollows but will also use nest boxes (BTO).
On camera
Getting the coal tit on a feeder camera
Any seed camera feeder works. Hang it near shrubs for cover, about five feet off the ground, with the lens facing away from direct sun.
Questions
Coal Tit: questions
What do coal tits eat?
At feeders, sunflower hearts, peanuts, suet.
Do coal tits migrate?
Year-round resident. Across the UK it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in January.
Where do coal tits live?
By share of all bird sightings, they are most common in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England.