The Birds at My Feeder: Willow Tit… or Maybe Marsh Tit? (Poecile montanus or Poecile palustris)

After appreciating the bold personality of the Great Tit, I turned my attention to another, quieter visitor to our feeder. At first, I thought it was the Willow Tit. Its soft, understated plumage—subtle browns, grays, and a small black cap—fits the description perfectly. But as I watched more closely, doubt crept in. Could it be a Marsh Tit instead?

Both are similar in size and coloring, though I’ve read that the Willow Tit has a more defined black bib and a slightly larger head. Still, even with this knowledge, I’m hesitant to say for sure. For now, I’ll stick with calling it a Willow Tit, though I might be wrong!

Do you know how to tell these two apart? I heard it’s only by song. I’d love to hear from more experienced birdwatchers—maybe you can help me solve this little mystery!

Ilze


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4 thoughts on “The Birds at My Feeder: Willow Tit… or Maybe Marsh Tit? (Poecile montanus or Poecile palustris)

    1. That sounds so lovely! Birds bring such a special kind of joy. Since this is the first winter we’re living in the house and feeding birds, I’m curious to see which ones will visit us too.

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    1. Thank you for the link! 😊 It really does look so similar to your Black-capped Chickadee. I’ll keep an eye out and do some more research—hopefully, I can figure out exactly which bird it is. Birdwatching is such a fun little mystery!

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