The great tit is part of the the tit bird family. It’s a large one – with around 40 species in it! If you’ve been wondering, “Are great tit birds found in India?” the answer is: yes.
The great tit bird does live in India. In addition to the great tit, certain members of the tit family are native to India. These include the Indian tit, white-naped tit, sultan tit, and cinereous tit.
Want to know more about the great tit and other tit birds found in India? Keep reading to find out.
| Scientific Name | Parus major |
| Other Names | N/A |
| Family | Tits |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
| Length | 4.9 – 5.5 in or 12.5 – 14 cm |
| Wingspan | 8.8 – 10 in or 22.5 – 25.5 cm |
| Weight | 0.5 – 0.75 oz or 14 – 22 g |
| Average Lifespan | 3 years |
| When To See | Year round |
| Where To See | Woodland areas |
Contents
About the Great Tit Bird:
The great tit is the largest member of the tit family. Besides its black head and neck, the great tit has a white belly and yellow breasts. Here are some quick facts about the bird:
- In the tit family, the great tit is the biggest.
- The great tit lives in woodlands across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
- The great tit is a social creature and can often hang out in flocks of up to 30 birds.
What Colors Are the Great Tit?
Most of these birds are colorful, with black, white, and yellow being the most common colors. The plumage of some species is sexually dimorphic, meaning that the males and females have different colored feathers.
How Do I Identify Tit Birds in India?
It can be hard to know which bird you’re looking at since the tit family is so large. Here’s how you can identify different tit birds:
Cinereous tit
In India, cinereous tits live across the North and South. They have a gray back, black head, white wing bars, plus a black stripe along their side.
Sultan Tit
You can find the sultan tit bird in the eastern Himalayas, Northeast and Central India. This bird has a yellow forehead, crown, black upperparts, and deep yellow undersides. The female has dark greenish brown upper parts and sides of the head.
Indian Tit
This bird has a black head, yellow cheeks and green upper body, yellow wings, and white tail feathers. It has a black head, yellow cheeks, and a green upper body.
White-Naped Tit
White-naped tits are native to India and have black heads and black wings. There is a thick line of black on the chest, but the rest of the bird is white.
What Do Great Tits Eat, and Where Do They Live?
Most members of this family are insectivores, meaning that they eat insects. However, some species, such as the great tit, will also eat small mammals, reptiles, and even other birds.
The nest of a tit bird is typically a cup-shaped structure made from twigs, leaves, and grass, lined with hair or feathers. The eggs are white or pale blue, usually between 5 and 12 in a clutch.
The incubation period for these eggs is around two weeks. Once the chicks have hatched, both parents will help to feed them. The young birds usually leave the nest after around three weeks.
Do Great Tits Migrate?
These birds are not typically migratory, although some species may move to lower altitudes in winter.
The most likely explanation for why great tits don’t migrate is that they have a good food supply in the areas where they live. The great tits can find plenty of insects to eat in the trees and gardens where they live as well as seeds and nuts.
This resilience is likely due to the great tit’s ability to exploit a wide range of food sources and its willingness to nest in human-created habitats. Set up a bird feeder by your window if you want to observe the great tit birds found in India for yourself!
The Resilient Great Tit
No more wondering, “Are great tit Birds Found in India?” You now know they are. The great tit is a highly adaptable bird found in many habitats throughout Europe and Asia, including India.
It is a famous bird due to its cheerful song, bright plumage, and curious nature. Want to keep learning? Check out our other helpful articles about birds to see which species are near you!