Passerines

Bearded Tit

1. Larger than the other tits (6½") of which 3" forms the tail.
2. Male has a remarkable head pattern which the female lacks.
3. Like reed beds, has bred the last 3-4 years at Barton (where new nature trust is located).

Blue Tit

1. About 41/2" in length, blue crown and generally blue and yellow plumage.
2. Visit bird table particularly if coconuts, fat or nuts are hung up.
3. Up to 16 eggs.
4. Nest box [hole] 1.125"

Great Tit

1. Resplendent in yellow and green with a black cap and line down its chest.
2. Most widespread of the tit family.
3. Certainly the noisiest - over 57 distinct calls.
4. Nests in natural holes in trees and will take readily to nest boxes.
5. A pair will rear up to 10 young.
6. It has been estimated that the young eat 7,000 - 8,000 caterpillars in the 20 days that they are in the nest.

Marsh Tit

1. Very difficult to tell from willow tit. 
2. More common, will come to bird table - not so willow tit.
3. Avoids fir woods and seem to be most numerous in woods with ash trees.
4. The cap is rather a more shiny black with a more neat bib than the willow tit.
5. 7 to 10 eggs.
6. The nest is built in a cavity of a tree, preferably with a very small entrance and is lined with moss, wool and fur.

Goldcrest

1. Britain's smallest bird.
2. Nest often built in conifers.
3. Their numbers are greatly reduced by a cold winter.
4. 7-10 eggs, white or pale yellow, freckled with brown.
5. Feeding - flies and other insects; spiders.

Wren

1. Second smallest of our breeding birds 3¾".
2. Ancient ceremony on St Stephens Day (Dec 26) of beating the hedges.
3. Domed nest made of moss, leaves, grass, wool and feathers.
4. The male constructs several false nests.
5. Wrens sings as many as 6,000 phrases a day over a period of 2-3 months.
6. Eggs - white sprinkled with red, 5-8 eggs.

Skylark

1. The famous songster that sings as it flies.
2. Has a crest, though this often lies flat.
3. In winter, great flocks may pass over during spells of hard weather.
4. In France rarely seen due to perception as a delicacy.
5. 3-4 eggs rather glossy brown speckled eggs, may be 2-3 broods in a season.

Redpoll

1. Member of the finch family.
2. Feed mainly in trees, particularly birch and Norwegian spruce, especially young plantations (numerous at Elsham).
3. They often rise in a mass from the tree tops with a characteristic "buzzing" call, wheeling in the air a few times before settling again.