Willow Tits and Marsh Tits have long caused confusion amongst birders and in fact it wasn’t until 1900 that it was realised that Willow Tits occurred in Britain. Even their English names derive from the original confusion over their status. Marsh Tits are not particularly associated with marshes, generally preferring deciduous or mixed woodland while Willow Tits tend to favour damper habitats but can also be found in coniferous woodlands.
Marsh Tits are widespread across England and Wales, but virtually absent from Scotland while Willow Tits are similarly widespread but reach further north to south-west Scotland. However, Willow Tits are rather localised and have been in decline since the mid 1970s, having become extinct in an ever-increasing number of former haunts. This continued decline is thought most likely to be a combination of competition with other tit species, deterioration in the quality of woodland as feeding habitat and increasing nest predation by Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Consequently, it’s UK conservation listing has been upgraded from amber to red. It has always been a scarce bird in the south-west of England and it would appear that this retraction in range is steadily heading north. In fact, it’s interesting to note that it’s European range has always had less of a south-westerly distribution than the Marsh Tit which extends as far as the north coast of Spain, whereas Willow Tit is largely absent from western and south-western France.
In Worcestershire the species now appears to be virtually absent south of Worcester but is just about maintaining a presence at a few sites in the north of the county.
Marsh Tit. Photo: Steve Seal
Identification is far from easy and it can take a great deal of practice to confidently separate the two species. The key thing to remember is that relying on one or two plumage features could result in an incorrect identification. Instead, more emphasis should be placed on the birds overall structure and particularly the head and neck. Unlike the Marsh Tit, Willow Tits excavate their own nest hole which undoubtedly explains why they have a thicker neck. The overall body shape often has an ‘egg like’ appearance with a large rounded head while their plumage can often appear scruffier due to their looser, fluffy feathering whereas Marsh Tits often appear sleek and ‘well groomed’.
Willow Tit (left) and Marsh Tit. Photos: Peter Walkden (left) and John Robinson
Willow Tit (left) and Marsh Tit. Photos: Steve Seal (left) and John Robinson
Note the dumpy, egg-shape of the Willow Tits compared to the sleeker looking Marsh Tits
Marsh Tit (left) and Willow Tit. Photos: John Robinson (left) and Peter Walkden
The bull-necked appearance of the Willow Tit is particularly noticeable
Willow Tits have a long, dull black cap that extends well back on to the mantle, noticeably further than on Marsh, but this can vary greatly with posture. Furthermore the shape of the head and cap also provide Willow Tits with larger, more extensively white cheeks, whereas those of Marsh Tits often have a two-toned effect being buffer at the rear but some individuals can appear as uniformly white as Willow Tit. Another feature that is often quoted in field guides is the glossy black cap of Marsh Tit, but little emphasis should be placed on this as it is lacking in juveniles, while in poor light conditions both species will appear to have dull caps. The size of the black bib is another variable feature and those individuals that have extensive bibs with a suggestion of black peppering flaring out at the bottom are more likely to be Willow while those with smaller clear cut bibs are more likely to be Marsh but there is overlap between the two species.
Willow Tit (left) and Marsh Tit. Photos: Steve Seal (left) and John Robinson
The white cheeks extend well past the bend in the wing on the Willow Tit
The upperparts of both species are a uniform brown, being slightly darker on the wings. Willow Tits often show pale edges to the secondaries producing a pale wing panel but birds in worn plumage during summer may lack this feature. To add to the confusion, fresh plumaged Marsh Tits can show a suggestion of a pale wing panel.
Marsh Tits often have a pale mark at the base of the bill and this can extend along the cutting edge while Willow Tits generally lack this feature. Unless the views are extremely good this feature will probably be of limited use in the field, but apparently it can be very reliable for in-hand examination.
Willow Tit. Photo: Steve Seal
Marsh Tit. Photo: John Robinson
Note the pale mark at the base of the bill of the Marsh Tit
However, all of these visual characteristics are not wholly reliable in the field especially if the views are less than satisfactory. Fortunately, as with all members of the tit family both species are often very vocal. Their calls are quite different and once learnt they should not only allow for an accurate identification but also for locating individuals in the first place.
The most frequently heard call of the Willow Tit is a harsh drawn-out nasal ‘chay-chay-chay’ or ‘ti tis chay-chay-chay’, whereas Marsh Tit gives out an explosive ‘pitchou’ often followed by ‘chu-chu-chu’. Their songs are equally distinctive with Willow Tit giving a slow and measured Wood Warbler like ‘tsui tsui tsui tsui’ while Marsh Tit has a quicker, more repetitive ‘swe swe swe swe swe swe swe’ call.
In an attempt to try and establish the current status of both species in Worcestershire, all records would be particularly welcome. Furthermore, because of the seemingly rapid decline of Willow Tit in the county, all records of this species will require a written description ideally including details of the bird’s call and/or song as well details of plumage and structure. This will apply to all records from 1 January 2007. Please submit records either via the Rarities Submission Form
(Willow Tit) or Records Submission Form (Marsh Tit) preferably including a grid reference. Exact details of known nest sites of either species will not be publicised on this website.
