Great tit

It is a passerine bird and the most common of the tits. It is somewhat fearless and for this reason also nests in heavily anthropized sites.

• Length: 13.5-15 cm
• Wingspan: 22-25 cm
• Plumage: greenish upper part, tail and grey-bluish wings. Head and the throat shiny black, white cheeks; yellow underparts crossed longitudinally by a black line from throat to abdomen that in males is slight more evident.
• Weight: approx. 20 g.

It is a voracious insectivore (larvae, bees, spiders) but does not turn down seeds, fruit and berries. It breaks the food into bits while keepiing it still with its legs. It gladly accepts food available in feeders.

It builds its nest with moss, hair and feathers in protected cavities (trees, walls, light posts, artificial nests) in which it lays 8-15 eggs between April and May, in two successive clutches. White with small dark brown spots, the eggs are brooded by the female for about 15 days. Both parents look after the chicks for 20-30 days from hatching.

It is widespread in Europe and North Africa. In Italy, it is nest-building and sedentary. It prefers low altitudes and woods of conifers and fruit orchards, but perfectly adapts to urban environments. It is not rare in Milan to spot it amongst the trees of avenues and parks, and in feeders on balconies or in gardens in the winter.

It is the first to sing, already in December/January.