Beginner's Birds: Great Blue Coal

This mini feeding station at the rear of the Health and Safety Service building on the Science Site has attracted 14 different species of birds ( and a squirrel). These photos show the commonest 3 visitors - from the top, great tit, blue tit and coal tit.

Although these are common birds around the campus, identification does still confuse people who take only a passing interest in birds.

Here are some key identification pointers:-

Great tit: the chunkiest of the three; very bold white cheeks; strong black mark down the centre of its chest

Blue tit: daintier and...well...blue-ish on its head and back

Coal tit:: dainty - like the blue tit: white cheeks but never as clean and bold as the great tit. Also - look on the back of the head where there is an extra white patch.