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Quick answer
The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is an acrobatic European garden bird with a blue cap, yellow belly, and white cheeks. It weighs about 11 g, nests in tree holes and boxes, and feeds chicks on caterpillars. Listed Least Concern and a staple of UK gardens, though timing mismatches with climate-shifted caterpillar peaks worry ecologists.
Top questions about the Blue Tit
Blue Tit facts at a glance
- Weight 11 g
- Length 12 cm
- Top speed 30 km/h
- Lifespan 3 years
| Scientific name | Cyanistes caeruleus |
|---|---|
| Diet | Insectivore |
| Habitat | Deciduous woodland, parks, and gardens |
| Lifespan | Around 3 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 0.011 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 30 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Paridae |
| Genus | Cyanistes |
Where it lives
The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is native to Woodland and gardens across Europe, the Middle East, and parts of North Africa. — recorded across Europe, Asia, Africa in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
How big is a blue tit?
An adult blue tit measures 12 cm long — about 7% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 11 g, a small fraction of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).
Length vs an average adult’s height (to scale)
What is a group of blue tits called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Blue Tits is called a band.
Baby name
A baby Blue Tit is called a chick.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Acrobatic cavity nester
Blue caps and yellow underparts make identification easy. They hang upside-down to glean aphids and visit feeders boldly. Clutches can exceed a dozen eggs in good years.
Caterpillars for chicks
Adults take insects and seeds; peak chick demand coincides with oak winter-moth caterpillars. Mild winters and early springs can desynchronise hatch and food peak.
Europe to North Africa gardens
Deciduous woodland, parks, and gardens across Europe, the Middle East, and parts of North Africa. Across its range it is tied to deciduous woodland, parks, and gardens, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.
Climate timing challenge
Least Concern and still numerous, yet research shows breeding success falls when caterpillars peak before chicks hatch — a live example of climate-driven mismatch.
Explore the Blue Tit
Related Birds
Range & geography
Conservation status of the Blue Tit
The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Least Concern (LC) is the IUCN's lowest-risk category, assigned to widespread, abundant species that have been evaluated and found not to be threatened. It does not mean a species faces no pressures — only that it is not currently at risk of extinction.
The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is assessed on the IUCN Red List. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Blue Tit
How many eggs can a blue tit lay?
Large clutches of 8–12 or more are common when food is abundant.
Why do blue tits need caterpillars?
Nestlings grow fastest on protein-rich caterpillars, especially in oak woods.
Will blue tits use nest boxes?
Yes — they readily adopt small-hole boxes in gardens and woods.
Are blue tits the same as chickadees?
They are related titmice; chickadees are the North American Poecile group.
Where do blue tits live?
Woodland and gardens across Europe into the Middle East and North Africa.
What is a group of blue tits called?
A group of Blue Tits is called a band.
What is a baby blue tit called?
A baby Blue Tit is called a chick.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Blue Tit:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Cyanistes caeruleus.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Cyanistes caeruleus. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
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GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Cyanistes caeruleus. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
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eBird — bird observations
Cornell Lab eBird target search for Blue Tit. Check recent checklists and seasonal abundance where birders report this species.
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