Coal Tit

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Periparus ater

Common & widespread residents of 600,000 pairs in Britain plus 925,000 birds in Ireland.

Also breeds in mainland Europe & North West Africa.

Adult have a brilliant white nape is another striking feature, as are the white tips of the wing coverts, which appear as two wingbars. The underparts are whitish, shading from buff to rufous on the flanks.

The bill is black, the legs are lead-coloured, and the irides are dark brown.

Juveniles are duller than Adults.

They lack the glossy black head of adults and the white nape and cheeks are tinged yellow.

The song is a if-he, if-he, if-he most frequently heard from January to June, but also in autumn. 

It resembles the song of the Great Tit, but is much faster and higher in pitch.