#greattit

The most common, largest, and let's not be afraid of the word – the smartest tit in Europe. It's their black-and-white head and yellow belly that color our bird feeders. At my place, for instance, they nest at my neighbor's, and their nest is perfectly visible from my terrace. They constantly fly through the large fig tree and dive onto all my feeders at practically any time of day!

But don't be fooled by their cute looks. These birds are born killers. While in summer they feed mainly on insects, their diet is extremely flexible. And here come the blood-curdling facts. It has been documented that in Poland and Hungary, great tits hunted hibernating bats! And across Europe, they occasionally attack other small birds to eat their brains. This isn't a Hollywood movie, it's ornithology. They are ruthless when they need to take care of themselves.

Their intelligence is legendary. In the 1920s in Britain, it was the great tits, one after another, that discovered how to pierce the foil caps on milk bottles left by milkmen on doorsteps. This was no accident; it was the essence of avian innovation, passed down from generation to generation. They are extremely clever and have perfectly adapted to life in our gardens.

As for their favorite menu, my observations confirm they go for calories and protein. They love shelled sunflower seeds and crushed nuts, so I keep them supplied. It's an investment in securing the best wildlife show under the sun.

And if we reach into folk beliefs, it turns out these birds weren't always just a pretty sight. In Slavic folklore, encountering a great tit was commonly considered a sign of good news and prosperity. This little bird was believed to bring luck for the entire day. On the other hand, English folklore held the belief that loud, numerous chirps from tits in the autumn foretold a harsh winter ahead, a warning these birds were said to bring to people.

I adore them and I feel truly honored to be able to share my garden with them – although they probably consider it exclusively their own private, perfectly managed territory.

You can read more about great tits on my blog:

https://bigpotato.online/no-bottle-of-milk-was-safe/

Great Tit at Old Moor April 2025

Great Tit at Castle Point June 2016