Spring is sprung. The birdies are singing. Once again the British birdwatcher can enjoy their pleasure without having their nuts frozen off. So we are starting a new occasional series to introduce those unfamiliar with British birds to species identification in the field. First …

The Tit Family
There are seven (or maybe eight) species of tits seen in Britain (most commonly seen first).

Blue (or Tiny) Tit	Great Tit
Coal Tit	Long-Tailed Tit
Marsh or Willow Tit May be two separate species but impossible to tell apart except hand. Named after the weeping willow tree.	Crested Tit
Bearded Tit