Great tits are distinguished from blue tits by their larger size and black cap.

Physical description
Great tits have a wingspan of 14-16cm, a body length of 14cm and weigh 14-22g. Great tits have blue and yellow plumage with a black cap. Both sexes have a black stripe running down the middle of the chest, but the stripe is much broader in the males.

Distribution
Great tits occupy Europe, North West Africa and Asia (except for North Asia).

Habitat
Their preferred habitat is forest, parks, gardens and farmland hedgerows.

Diet
They forage in the trees and on the ground, feeding on insects, spiders, seeds, nuts, buds and fruit.

Behaviour
Great tits live in family groups for a short time after breeding, and then join mixed flocks of other species in the late summer and through to spring.

Reproduction
The nest is built by both parents and is made of moss and grass, and lined with hair and feathers. This is positioned in a hole in a tree or wall, or in a nestbox. In late April or early May, the female incubates 5-11 eggs for 13-14 days. The male feeds the female while she is brooding. The chicks fledge after 16-22 days, but they are still dependant on their parents for a week or two. Very occasionally there may be two broods in a season.

Conservation status
Great tits are not considered to be globally threatened. There are about 1,600,000 pairs in Britain.

Voice
Great tits have a wide range of loud calls (more than 80 have been recorded), including a distinctive teacher, teacher song.