Blue Tit vs Great Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus and Parus major
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
Great Tit
Parus major
Comparison notes
Field marks and practical differences
The Blue Tit and Great Tit are two common UK garden birds that can be confused at a glance but have distinct field marks. The Blue Tit is smaller, measuring 11-12 cm, with a bright blue crown, wings, and tail, yellow underparts, and white cheeks edged with a dark line through the eye. Juveniles appear duller with yellowish cheeks. In contrast, the Great Tit is larger, 12-14 cm long, with a glossy black head, white cheeks, and a prominent black stripe down its yellow chest, wider in males. Its upperparts are greenish-grey with a white wing bar. Both species occupy similar habitats, including woodlands, parks, and gardens, and readily visit feeders. The Great Tit’s larger size and louder calls often make it more dominant at feeding sites. When photographing, note the Blue Tit’s smaller, more compact shape and its distinctive blue head, while the Great Tit’s bold black head and chest stripe are key identification features. Both birds are agile and approachable, making them rewarding subjects for UK wildlife photographers.
Size stats
Compare species by wingspan and weight
- Body length
- 11 - 12 cm
- Wingspan
- 17 - 20 cm
- Weight
- 10 - 12 g
- Body length
- 12 - 14 cm
- Wingspan
- 22 - 25 cm
- Weight
- 16 - 21 g
Habitats
Where they live
Diet breakdown
What they eat
- Insects70%
- Other Invertebrates20%
- Fruits & seeds10%
- Insects70%
- Other Invertebrates15%
- Fruits & seeds10%
- Plant matter5%
Species notes
Descriptions and photographer notes
Blue Tit
A small songbird that is easy to recognise by its bright blue head, wings, and tail, which stand out against its yellow underside and white cheeks edged with a dark line through the eye. Adult birds have a greenish-blue back and a single dark line across the belly. Young birds look duller and have yellowish cheeks. This bird is common and found widely across the UK and mainland Europe, reaching into western Asia and North Africa. It stays in most areas all year round, although some populations in the north move slightly during the winter. It prefers woodlands with mainly broad-leaved trees, as well as parks, gardens, and hedgerows. It adapts well to areas altered by people, often using nest boxes and visiting garden feeders. It is especially linked to oak woods, where plenty of caterpillars help it raise its young successfully.
Great Tit
The Great Tit is a striking bird with a shiny black head, white cheeks, and a clear black stripe running down its yellow chest and belly. This stripe is usually wider in males than in females. Its upper body is a greenish-grey colour with a white band on the wing. It measures about fourteen centimetres, making it the largest of the British tits. Found across Europe and Asia, the Great Tit is a common bird throughout the UK. It lives in woodlands, parks, hedgerows, and gardens. It often visits bird feeders and tends to be more dominant than smaller birds. This bird adapts well to living near people and uses nest boxes easily, although it usually nests in holes in trees.