Most people find it hard to tell apart a great tit vs. coal tit at first glance. Great tits and coal tits share many similarities in habitat and behavior, leading to confusion. But if you know their subtle differences, you can identify them correctly each time.

Their appearance and size are often the first visible distinguishing factor, with the great tit being the largest of all tit species. But there are other differences, including their plumage colors, nesting habits, and feeding patterns.

Appearance

The first thing you’ll notice when comparing the great tit vs. coal tit is their appearance. The great tit’s head and neck are black with white cheeks.

They also have a black stripe running down the bird’s center. The sides of the great tit’s abdomen are yellow, while the rump is olive-green.

The coal tit, on the other hand, has a black head with white cheeks. They also have a small white patch at the back of the head.

The rump of the coal tit is primarily gray, while the underparts are a light-brownish yellow. Younger coal tits have yellow cheeks.

Size

The great tit is considered a large bird in the tit family. It has a length of 12.5-14cm, unlike the coal tit, which measures 10-11.5 cm. Great tits have a wingspan of 24 cm, while the average wingspan of a coal tit is 19 cm.

In terms of weight, the great tit is heavier than the coal tit at about 18 g and 9 g, respectively. The great tit also has a longer tail compared to the coal tit.

Habitat

You can find the great tit across various habitats, including mixed forests, gardens, deciduous woodlands, scrublands, and forest clearings of coniferous or dense woods. They also occupy the boreal taiga of Siberia, the riverine willows of China, and birch forests.

Coal tits are commonly found in coniferous woodlands but have also adapted to living in gardens and parks with conifer trees. They may join other tit species during winter to forage in the woods.

Nesting

Great tits are highly adaptable in their nesting habits. They will build nests in woodlands, holes in walls and trees, and abandoned nests from other species.

 

Today, they will nest in natural spaces and artificial structures, including bird boxes, letter boxes, air ducts, and pipes.

Coal tits will often nest in coniferous woodlands where they feel safe. You may also find them in holes in deciduous trees, walls, or in the ground.

In rare cases, they may nest in garden nesting boxes, especially if larger birds such as the blue and great tits have not occupied the nests.

The females are responsible for building the nest, which she layers with space moss, spider webs, wood, hair, and feathers.

Breeding

The great tit and the coal tit have an overlapping breeding season starting in March. However, the breeding season for the great tit is shorter, ending in May, while the breeding season of the coal tit ends in July.

Great tits begin establishing their breeding territories in late January, laying the defensive positions in early spring in readiness for the breeding season.

They will maintain the breeding territory in successive years, only changing it after a predator attack.

During the breeding season, the great tit lays between six to eleven eggs, while the coal tit lays between 5-13 eggs.

Their young ones hatch blind and without feathers. Great tits and coal tits will feed the hatchlings until they are independent enough to forage.

Vocalization

Tits are vocal birds. But when comparing the great tit vs. coal tit, the former is more vocal. The great tit has more than 40 different calls and songs.