great tits
Common European songbirds
Great tits are small songbirds common across Europe and Asia, recognizable by their yellow bellies and black head markings.
The name combines "great" (the largest of the tit family) with "tit" (from an old word for small birds).
A great tit was feeding at the bird table.
The plural invites schoolyard snickering but is standard ornithological terminology.
Perching bird order member
- chickadeeSmall capped North American songbird
- nuthatchBark-climbing songbird
- treecreeperTrunk-scaling insectivore
- songbirdMelodious perching avian
woodland bird · Eurasian · Asian · insectivore · seedeater
Dark headwear or warbler
- plumageBird's complete feather coat
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- colorationSurface hue arrangement
- markingsIdentifying visual features
male · female · juvenile · molting · breeding plumage · contour feathers · glossy · pigmentation
Forested land area
- deciduous forestTrees losing leaves annually
- gardenCultivated plant area
- hedgerowLinear shrub boundary
- orchardFruit tree plantation
parkland · nest box · birdhouse · cavity · tree hole · canopy · undergrowth · bird feeder
Seeking wild food sources
- nestingMaking a dwelling
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- monogamousMated to one only
- incubationDevelopment before emergence
fledgling · clutch · eggs · breeding · roosting · perching · flight · bathing
Avian musical vocalizations
- callContact by phone
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- whistlingBlowing air tunefully
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
chirping · dawn chorus · singing · notes · repertoire · duet · alarm call
Scientific study of birds
- ornithologistOne who studies birds
- ringingSustained resonant sound
- bandingAdding decorative strips
- biometricsBody-based identity verification
population · conservation · research · ecology · migration · citizen science · birdwatching
passerine
Perching bird order member
- chickadeeSmall capped North American songbird
- nuthatchBark-climbing songbird
- treecreeperTrunk-scaling insectivore
songbird · woodland bird · Eurasian · Asian · insectivore · seedeater
black cap
Dark headwear or warbler
- plumageBird's complete feather coat
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- colorationSurface hue arrangement
markings · male · female · juvenile · molting · breeding plumage · contour feathers · glossy · pigmentation
woodland
Forested land area
- deciduous forestTrees losing leaves annually
- gardenCultivated plant area
- hedgerowLinear shrub boundary
orchard · parkland · nest box · birdhouse · cavity · tree hole · canopy · undergrowth · bird feeder · backyard
foraging
Seeking wild food sources
- nestingMaking a dwelling
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- monogamousMated to one only
incubation · fledgling · clutch · eggs · breeding · roosting · perching · flight · bathing · caching
birdsong
Avian musical vocalizations
- callContact by phone
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- whistlingBlowing air tunefully
melody · chirping · dawn chorus · singing · notes · repertoire · duet · alarm call
ornithology
Scientific study of birds
- ornithologistOne who studies birds
- ringingSustained resonant sound
- bandingAdding decorative strips
biometrics · population · conservation · research · ecology · migration · citizen science · birdwatching