Willow Tit Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Willow tits are very similar in size and weight as other members of the tit family including blue tits and marsh tits. Willow tits have a sooty brown cap which extends to the back of the neck, a black bib, brown upper parts with white cheeks and pale grey or buff underparts.
The population of the willow tit is sadly in decline in the UK due to various reasons including loss of habitat and predators. Keep reading to find out more about these small members of the tit family.
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The Dietary Habits Of The Willow Tit
In order to survive, the willow tit has developed a diverse diet which allows them to live in many areas across varied landscapes.
What Does A Willow Tit Eat?
The diet of the willow tit includes caterpillars, insects and spiders. However, they will eat seeds and berries when food is in short supply during inclement weather or winter time.
This ability to diversify their menu allows the willow tit to survive during periods when food is in short supply.
What To Feed A Baby Willow Tit?
The parents feed their chicks on mainly caterpillars and other protein rich insects like flies, grubs, larvae and spiders. The parents spend the first 2 to 3 weeks of the chick’s life finding food and feeding the young chicks.
Once the chicks fledge the nest, the parents will still feed them for a few weeks whilst teaching the chicks how to forage and feed themselves.
Breeding Habits Of Willow Tits
Once willow tits pair up, they start the process of excavating a nest in a dead tree stump. Both birds will dig into the damp wood to make a hole large enough to create a suitable nest.
They make a considerable amount of noise whilst building their nest which often attracts the attention of other birds like the more aggressive blue tit or great tit. These birds will often bully the more timid willow tits away from the nest which is then occupied by the more aggressive tits.
This will mean the pair of willow tits will be unable to breed in that year as they have exhausted themselves building a nest that has been stolen. They will typically not have enough energy to start the nest building process again and will need to leave it until the following spring.
Do Willow Tits Mate For Life?
In most cases, willow tits form monogamous relationships which will last for the whole of their lives. They Will return to the same nesting area each year with the same partner.
If the pair do split up, it is usually a young pair that separates with the young female moving onto an older male. This young female & older male pairing are often more successful in rearing a brood than two young partners.
The Size & Weight Of Willow Tits
It can be quite difficult to distinguish willow tits from marsh tits with the main differences being habitat and a pale panel on the wings of the willow tit. However, let’s look at the size and weight of the willow tit to help in identifying these small passerine birds.
How Much Does A Willow Tit Weigh?
Willow tits are small birds and weigh anywhere between 8 to 14 g. For comparison, a standard slice of bread weighs around 14 g.
This is around the same weight as the blue tit but of course there are differences in the colours of these two tit family members.
How Big Is A Willow Tit?
The size and wingspan of the willow tit is also comparable to that of the blue tit. Willow tits have a body length of around 11.5 cm and a wingspan of around 17 to 19 cm.
Many members of the tit family have similar sizes and wingspans. Apart from the blue tit, the coal tit for example, also shares similar dimensions.
Are Willow Tits Under Threat?
The willow tit population has fallen dramatically since the 1970s in the UK. To the point that they have been Red listed since 2022. However, this is not true elsewhere in the world.
According to the Species of European Conservation Concern (SECC) they are classified as a bird of “least concern” and the same is true for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The reasons for the decline in numbers in the UK isn’t known but there is speculation that loss of habitat and predation are the main causes.
It’s also interesting that as the number of willow tits have reduced in the UK so has the increase in the number of blue tits and great spotted woodpeckers.
What Eats A Willow Tit?
The main predator of willow tits is the great spotted woodpecker which gets into the holes in damp wood that comprises the willow tit nest and steals the eggs and young chicks. Willow tits also fall prey to other larger birds including sparrowhawks and owls.
They also fall prey to small mammals like stoats, weasels, squirrels and rats as well as domestic cats.
Where Can I See Willow Tits In The UK?
Willow tits can be seen in various parts of the UK, but their range has reduced significantly in recent years. Back in the day, you could find willow tits all over the UK but they are now restricted to areas in the north and west of the UK with most of their population based in areas of northern England and parts of Wales and Scotland.
There are enclaves of willow tits in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Cheshire and Durham. Their habitat is typically damp or wet woodlands with decaying trees amongst new plantations.
They can also often be seen around gravel pits and similar environments like lakesides and reservoirs. As long as there are rotting or decaying trees in the vicinity.
SEE ALSO: Blue Tit vs Great Tit: Key Differences Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
Willow tits main predators include great spotted woodpeckers, sparrowhawks, owls, weasels, stoats, squirrels, rats and domestic cats.
Willow tits have a body length of around 11.5 cm and a wingspan of around 17 to 19 cm. Which is very similar to that of a blue tit.
In the majority of cases willow tits are monogamous and mate with the same partner every breeding season. However, there is a small percentage (around 12%) of young females that switch partners and mate with an older male. These pairings are usually successful in rearing large broods.
