Great Tit
A Great Tit came to feed near the kitchen window today - I can't remember seeing one feed here before. He or she (I couldn't see the chest stripe to distinguish the sexes) fed mainly on the gelatin ring but also had a go at the new peanut feeder.
Labels: Great Tit
posted by The Bird Woman at 8:43 PM
4 Comments:
You learn something new every day! I had no idea that you could distinguish between male and female Great Tits by the chest stripe - more info please as we have about four that visit here regularly. Blue Tits were filling a nestbox with fresh moss today - won't be long now until they're sitting on eggs!
Hi Peggy,
To tell your GTs apart you'll need a decent view of the chest - the males have a broader stripe than the females. Other than the stripe, they are identical. The more you look at them, the easier it gets to tell them apart. It's obviously much easier if you get a male and female together, front on, and completely stationary. But, of course, that never happens!
Good news re your nest box! Ours has no takers, as far as I know, but I think the garden is just too busy - the box overlooks the back garden and feeding stations which puts potential occupants off. We've just bought another one to site round the side of the house where it's quieter.
Oh, and about your Blue Tits: If you're interested, they would appreciate some feathers (old pillow?) or dog/cat hair for the nest, if you have any? They should happily take it up to the box to finish the nest cup to keep the nestlings warm (don't provide cotton wool).
Might still be a bit early for that part of the nest building - but it wouldn't hurt to try. Just scatter it around the garden and they should find it (preferably on a dry day!)
And it's lovely to watch them take it, too!
:o)
Thanks for the info! I saw my first woodpecker today after never having seen one in the UK ever! I've been hearing them drum for weeks and our neighbour has one that visits their peanuts - but today I saw him or her!!! It was in my neighbours tree then it went on to drum on the telephone pole.
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