The marsh tit is a Eurasian passerine bird in the tit family Paridae and genus Poecile, closely related to the willow tit, Père David's and Songar tits. It is a small bird, around 12 cm (4.7 in) long and weighing 12 g (0.42 oz), with a black crown and nape, pale cheeks, brown back and greyish-brown wings and tail. Between 8 and 11 subspecies are recognised. Its close resemblance to the willow tit can cause identification problems, especially in the United Kingdom where the local subspecies of the two are very similar: they were not recognised as separate species until 1897.
Region
Europe and temperate Asia (Western Palearctic)
Typical Environment
Found widely across much of Europe and parts of western to central Asia, especially in lowland and foothill deciduous or mixed forests. It favors oak, beech, and hornbeam woods, old hedgerows, riparian strips, and well-wooded farmland edges. Unlike its name suggests, it generally avoids wet, open marshes and dense conifer plantations. Availability of natural tree cavities and a well-developed understory are key habitat features.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Despite its name, the marsh tit rarely favors marshes; it prefers mature deciduous and mixed woodland with plenty of natural cavities. It closely resembles the willow tit, but has a glossier black cap, a neater, smaller bib, and often a pale spot at the base of the upper mandible. It caches seeds in bark crevices and relies on excellent spatial memory to retrieve them. Pairs defend territories year-round and use natural holes rather than excavating their own.
Bird trapped for ringing showing pale 'cutting edges' to bill
Note the glossy cap, smaller bib and uniform wings which help distinguish it from the willow tit.
Typical marsh tit habitat in Northamptonshire, England.
Eggs, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically forms monogamous pairs that defend territories through the year. Nests in natural cavities, old woodpecker holes, or occasionally nest boxes, lining the nest with moss, hair, and plant fibers. Outside the breeding season it may join mixed-species foraging flocks but remains relatively territorial near core resources. Frequently caches seeds and revisits them during colder months.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a clear, ringing, sneeze-like ‘pi-choo’ or ‘pitchoo’ repeated at intervals, with various sweet whistles. Calls include sharp ‘pit’ notes and scolding churrs; overall more ringing and less nasal than the willow tit.
Plumage
Plain brown upperparts with pale buff underparts, glossy black crown and nape, neat small black bib, and clean, pale cheeks; wings and tail grey-brown with minimal wing paneling.
Diet
Eats small insects and spiders in spring and summer, switching to seeds, nuts, and beech mast in autumn and winter. Frequently visits hazel and beech crops and will take sunflower seeds at feeders. Stores food items in bark crevices and foliage, retrieving them later. Young are fed primarily on soft-bodied invertebrates.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the mid-storey and understory of mature deciduous woods, along hedgerows, and in wooded riparian corridors. Often feeds among twigs and branches, gleaning from leaves and bark, and occasionally descends to the ground for fallen seeds.
