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Only a little bigger than the goldcrest, so the smallest of tits. Their discreet way of living make the coal tits little observed. In winter they often accompany the flocks of crested tits or willow tits. They are sociable beings and usually not seen alone on their own. The shy bird is only seldom seen at the bird feeder, snatching a seed. 

The little bird has a black top of the head and chin patch; the plumage on the back is greyish. The characteristic white neck patch regrettably doesn’t show in Arne’s photo. The adult birds are very similar; their belly shows pastel colours, that of the juvenile birds is greyish-yellow and reminds a little of great tits.

 

As an insect eater it is a considerable destroyer of forest pests. It collects food stores for the winter, hiding seeds or invertebrates in bark cracks, between twig forks and always so that snow or ice will not cover the hiding place.