Not as large and loud as the Great Tit, or as colourful or cute as the Blue and Long-tailed varieties, the Coal Tit’s latin name translates as “dull black” tit, though this under-plays its subtle colouring somewhat. The brilliant white nape (back of the head) helps identification. Like Long-tailed Tits, flocks keep in touch with each other with seemingly incessant high-pitched ee-ee calls. With the advent of spring, these flocks will be breaking up as birds make nests in holes in trees, walls and even the ground – old mouse-holes for example. Interestingly, small birds are thought to have a reduced body mass in the daytime when predation risk is high, but a study found that after a night disturbed by Tawny Owl calls, Coal Tits increased their body mass by the following evening to offset anticipated increased night-time energy expenditure on attentive behaviour.
