Skip to main content
Close

Pied Great Tit; Carbonero Común Blanco

Parus major

Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

39.6795, -0.669935

Field Notes

Description:

This unusually plumaged bird was feeding in the trees outside my window this morning. In spite of the Common name I have given it, it is just a Great Tit with most of the yellow missing for some reason. On the 1st picture (but the last taken) there is just a hint of yellow behind the throat, on the others there is a hint of olive near the collar of the mantle. Unfortunately the bird did not give a full frontal view in the open. I did get one photo of it in the depth of a tree with just the tail and a bit of belly showing.

Habitat:

Garden

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

I know this image was posted some years ago but I see these Great Tits all over Central London - and none of them have any yellow. Also have a slightly different call than the Great "yellow-bellied" tit which is not listed anywhere I have found a 'de-doodoo-de-doodo' whistle. Lovely. But frustrating not to have a correct listening - until now, that is. Thank you, my birding friend.
The yellow colouring comes from carotens which Great Tits get from caterpillars. Since Great Tits are residents and not migrants that would indicate a local cause of lack of caterpillars. We had 3 huge forest fires last June which destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of montane forest and everything which lived there. Just like buses, we get 3 at once! http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/23743042 http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/24420003
Hi Malcolm, Its funny that you should post this as I found this one just like it the other day:http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/23743042 I thought it was my camera settings that were out as it was also missing any yellow plumage! you can see the black belly bar on mine though. how strange!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon