Bearded Tit

Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus, 1758) BR BEATI 13640
Family: Passeriformes > Panuridae

Bearded Tit, Allan Drewitt

The extraordinary colours, shape and calls of this small, reed-dwelling bird are quite unlike any other British species. It is related only distantly to other tit species.

Bearded Tits can be found year-round in large reed beds across England, Wales and the Tayside area of Scotland. Their long tail, rich auburn plumage, grey head and black moustachial stripe (or 'beard') are distinctive. In autumn, birds may be seen 'feeding' on grit, which helps to facilitate their switch from a summer diet of reedbed insects to one mostly of reed seeds in the winter.

Bearded Tit numbers were severely reduced by long, cold winters in the 20th century, and the species became restricted to a handful of sites in East Anglia and Kent. The species has since increased hugely in both numbers and range, and appears less susceptible to hard weather.

Identification

Bearded Tit identification is usually straightforward.

SONGS AND CALLS

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

Young call

Flight call

Alarm call

Call

Develop your bird ID skills with our training courses

Our interactive online courses are a great way to develop your bird identification skills, whether you're new to the hobby or a competent birder looking to hone your abilities.

Browse training courses

Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

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

POPULATION SIZE

POPULATION CHANGE

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)

DISTRIBUTION

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.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

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

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

SEASONALITY

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

Weekly occurence of Bearded Tit from BirdTrack
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Foreign locations of Bearded Tit ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland
Encountered in: Winter (Nov-Feb); Spring (Mar-Apr); Summer (May-Jul); Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Bearded Tit, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

SURVIVAL & LONGEVITY

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

BIOMETRICS

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

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

Welsh: Titw Barfog
Catalan: mallerenga de bigotis
Czech: sýkorice vousatá
Danish: Skægmejse
Dutch: Baardman
Estonian: roohabekas e. roovilbas
Finnish: viiksitimali
French: Panure à moustaches
German: Bartmeise
Hungarian: barkóscinege
Icelandic: Kampameisa
Irish: Meantán Croiméalach
Italian: Basettino
Latvian: bardzilite
Lithuanian: usuotoji zyle
Norwegian: Skjeggmeis
Polish: wasatka
Portuguese: chapim-de-bigodes
Slovak: fúzatka trstinová
Slovenian: brkata sinica
Spanish: Bigotudo
Swedish: skäggmes
Folkname: Reedling, Ping Tit

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Bearded Tit from BTO scientists.

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

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.

Links to more information from ConservationEvidence.com

Would you like to search for another species?