not a marsh bird. never was. please stop asking.
Marsh tit says
Bird 15 of 30 · video, 25:52
Marsh tit
Poecile palustris
A woodland tit that is not a marsh bird, and gives itself away from the willow tit only by its cap and its call.
- Tiny, 10.7 g
- Stays all year
- Tree hole
- Nest box with a hole
- In a tree
About the marsh tit
Marks and dots
Tap a numbered dot, or a name in the list.
The glossy black cap is what tells a marsh tit from a willow tit, whose cap is dull and sooty.
To be certain, listen: a soft pitchu call and a bubbling song.
From egg to adult
-
Egg
Eggs7–9 eggs≠BTOthe video says up to 8 eggs
Hatch after14 days video, BTO agrees
-
Chick in the nest
In the nest for18–21 days≠BTOthe video says about 14 days
-
Young bird
The video does not describe young marsh tits.
Adult
Glossy black cap; very like a willow tit
Broods a yearup to 2 broods video, BTO agrees
BTO averages: 15 days incubating the eggs, then 19 days in the nest. Averages across nest records, so the figures above can differ a little.
At the table
- not said in the video
The video does not say what marsh tits eat.
Through the year
Marsh tit: around Jan to Dec; first eggs laid 9 Apr to 6 May, average 20 Apr (BTO); first chicks leave the nest 11 May to 12 Jun (worked out from BTO).
What to know about the marsh tit
Eight short notes in our own words. Each chip says what the note stands on, and links to its row in the table below.
What to look for
About the size of a blue tit and rather tricky to identify, because it is remarkably like the willow tit. The only difference is the marsh tit's glossy black cap, against the willow tit's dull, sooty-black one.
Male and female
The video does not say whether male and female marsh tits look different.
not in the video
The young
The video does not describe young marsh tits.
not in the video
Song and call
To be certain you need to hear it. The marsh tit has a soft pitchu call and a bubbling song, where the willow tit's is buzzing, with rising notes.
Nest
Natural tree holes are the preferred nest site, with the eggs laid on a bed of moss. It has been known to use a standard nest box.
Feeding
The video does not say what marsh tits eat.
not in the video
Staying or leaving
Despite the name it is not a marshland bird. It much prefers woodland, though often close to bogs and other damp areas. BTO says adults stay on or near their territory all year.
In the garden
If your garden is close to woodland you may spot one. It is a very shy bird, and other birds can often chase it away.
Sources and checks
Where every fact about the marsh tit came from
15 claims about the marsh tit: 5 checked, 5 from the video only,2 differ, 3 from a source only. How the grades work
| Claim, in our words | Video time | Grade | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| It is remarkably similar to the willow tit; the only difference is the marsh tit's glossy black cap, against the willow tit's dull, sooty-black cap. | 26:09 | video only | |
| It is about the same size as a blue tit. | 26:02 | checked | BTO, read 2026-10-05BTO's adult weights are 10.7 g for the marsh tit and 10.9 g for the blue tit. |
| To be certain you need to hear the song: a soft pitchu call and a bubbling song, where the willow tit's is buzzing, with rising notes. | 26:23 | video only | The video's automatic captions garble the song's wording, so it is left out. |
| The marsh tit has a scolding pitchuu call. | 26:23 | checked | BTO, read 2026-10-05BTO describes a scolding 'pitchuu' call. |
| Natural tree holes are the preferred nest site. | 26:37 | checked | BTO, read 2026-10-05BTO says the species nests in natural holes, though it may take to nest boxes. |
| The eggs are laid on a bed of moss. | 26:42 | video only | |
| Up to eight eggs.video: up to 8 eggs | 26:42 | ≠differs | BTO, read 2026-10-05: 7–9 eggs (BTO typical)BTO's typical is 7–9 and the most it records is 11, not 8 |
| There can be two broods in a year.video: up to 2 broods | 26:44 | checked | BTO, read 2026-10-05: 1 brood (2 exceptionally) (BTO typical)up to 2 sits between BTO's typical top (1) and the most BTO records (2) |
| Hatching takes a fortnight.video: 14 days | 26:47 | checked | BTO, read 2026-10-05: 14–16 days (BTO typical)inside BTO's typical range of 14–16 |
| The young fly when they are little more than two weeks old.video: about 14 days | 26:49 | ≠differs | BTO, read 2026-10-05: 18–21 days (BTO typical)outside BTO's typical range of 18–21 |
| Despite its name the marsh tit is not associated with marshland; it much prefers woodland, though often close to bogs and other damp areas. | 25:52 | video only | |
| BTO says adult marsh tits stay on or near their territory all year round. | source only | source only | BTO, read 2026-10-05BTO's introduction to the species. |
| If your garden is close to woodland you may spot a marsh tit; it has been known to occupy a standard nest box, but is very shy and other birds can chase it away. | 26:56 | video only | |
| Adult weight, from ringing records: 10.7 g, adult average. | source only | source only | BTO, read 2026-10-05: 10.7 g, adult average |
| Timing of the first clutch: first eggs laid around 20 Apr (9 Apr-6 May). | source only | source only | BTO, read 2026-10-05: first eggs laid around 20 Apr (9 Apr-6 May) |
Written in our own words after “British Birds in your Garden” by The Great British Channel, where the marsh tit starts at 25:52.Numbers are checked against the BTO's page for the marsh tit, read on 5 October 2026. We are not connected to the channel or to the BTO.
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