Bearded Tit

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Bearded Tit, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Green listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	Yes
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(I,IV), Bern(III)

Bearded Tit is a specialist which breeds in reed-beds, and consequently many of its breeding sites are on nature reserves where they are well-monitored and reported to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. The population is around 700 pairs (five-year mean of 673 pairs for the period 2015–2019) and has almost doubled over the 25 years to 2019 although annual fluctuations can occur due to severe winter weather (Eaton et al. 2021). The breeding range in Britain expanded by 84% between 1968–72 and 2008–11 and the species now breeds in both Scotland and Wales (Balmer et al. 2013)

Bearded Tits are dependent on extensive Phragmites-dominated reedbeds and in 2007–11 they were found mostly in East Anglia and on the English south coast, with small isolated populations elsewhere, including in Wales and southern Scotland. Newly created or expanded reedbeds in Somerset, South Yorkshire and the East Anglian Fens have been readily colonised.

The breeding range expanded by 40% between the 1968–72 Breeding Atlas and the 1988–91 Breeding Atlas. This pattern has continued with a further 32% range expansion by 2008–11

Bearded Tit is recorded year-round; detections increase in autumn when irruptive parties can appear in atypical locations.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	7 years 3 months 0 days (set in 2009)
Typical Lifespan	3 years with breeding typically at 1 year
Adult Survival	0.558

Wing Length	Adults	59.8±1.9 | Range 57–63mm, N=718
	Juveniles	55.7±1.8 | Range 53-58mm, N=359
	Males	60.7±1.6 | Range 58–63mm, N=385
	Females	58.8±1.7 | Range 56–61mm, N=332

Body Weight	Adults	15.1±1.2 | Range 13.3–17.1g, N=617
	Juveniles	13.9±1 | Range 12.4–15.7g, N=346
	Males	15.3±1.1 | Range 13.6–17.1g, N=326
	Females	14.9±1.2 | Range 13.1–17.1g, N=290

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	A
Field Codes	2-letter: BR | 5-letter code: BEATI | Euring: 13640

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

Bearded Tits depend on Phragmites reedbeds and therefore habitat availability is likely to limit their distribution (Balmer et al. 2013). The creation and restoration of reedbeds over the last fifty years to help other specialist species, such as Bittern, is therefore likely to have helped drive population increases. Bearded Tits may be affected by severe weather (e.g. Wilson & Peach 2006) so it is also conceivable that climate change may also have benefited the species.