Bearded tit

Panurus biarmicus

AKA: Bearded reedling

The male bearded tit is cinnamon-brown with a long, brown tail. It has a rotund body and a light grey head, white throat, and a black drooping 'moustache' (rather than a beard) and a yellow bill and eyes.

Females are less colourful than males and are buffish-brown in colour, and do not have the moustache. Juveniles are very similar to adult females, but have black backs and black areas on their tail. Their plumage is more yellowish-buff.

They have an unsteady flight with irregular shallow undulations and whirring wingbeats. They can climb reed stems very nimbly, and build their nests low down amongst the reeds. They build a cup-shaped nest from dead leaves, lined with flowers, feathers and hair. They normally lay c. 4-8 eggs which are creamy-white with brown markings.

What they eat

Bearded tits feed mostly on insects, grass seeds and occasionally berries. During the summer breeding season they mainly consume invertebrates such as insects, snails, caterpillars and mayflies. In the winter, they change their diet as the number of available invertebrates drop, and they begin to feed mainly on seeds high up on the reed stems. Bearded tits can be seen ingesting grit to help grind up the tough shells of the seeds.

Where and when to see them

This striking bird can be seen all year round, and is largely seen near the coast.
It is mainly found in large reedbeds where it feeds on insects and reed seeds.

View a bearded tit 10km distribution map of Wales

Legal status

Classified in the UK as Green under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2015). Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

Field Signs

They are very noisy birds and their pinging calls often give them away.

Similar species

None, the males are very distinctive.

Did you know?

Bearded tits are not in fact tits, but are thought to be more closely related to the larks. They have been given their own family group.