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Marsh or Willow Tit (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter John151
- Start date
marklhawkes
Well-known member
Marsh Tit for me
Mike Feely
Well-known member
I'd also say Marsh for the reasons stated above, plus clean white cheeks and a shiny black crown (although both can be quite subjective from one photo).
Mike
Mike
John151
John
kstar_76 said:I would go with Marsh as I can't see any pale patch on the wing and the 'bib' looks small (although that is obscured by the seeds its holding). Hopefully a tit expert will be along shortly to advise, as Marsh/Willow etremely difficult to call from a photo
Thank you Kstar,
Kind regards,
John
bitterntwisted
Graham Howard Shortt
Can you post any more images, John? From previous threads it is clear these two are more difficult than many think, at least from photos. Whilst I agree with Marsh being more likely on this one shot, experience suggests that that can always change with a series of photos.
Thanks,
Graham
Thanks,
Graham
James said:
I've got these two mixed up this year, even though I felt quite confident at the time.
Having said that I would put my hand up for Marsh for the reasons above, although I do agree single photo's can be misleading. Also while I do not entirely agree with Collins that Willow do not visit feeders in winter, I do think the likely hood is less.
John
lou salomon
the birdonist
it's all there for marsh tit. head-neck shape, amount of white in necksides, no wingpanel, gloss on cap & last but not least: pale mandible margins (lacking in willow t.)
tarzzz
Well-known member
Willow tits DO come to feeders all the time. I have them everyday. You can see them now and then at:
http://abicom.se:8080/index.html
//Ben
http://abicom.se:8080/index.html
//Ben
Ilya Maclean
charlatan
I suspect Poecile will come along soon and put us all right, but before she does, I'll add my 2p's worth. I'd say Marsh.
I never go with the shiny cap or pale wing panal thing as these can vary according to lighting conditions or feather wear. The bib is a good clue, being smaller and neater on Marsh, but this varies with the age and sex of birds to the point where they can't be seperated on this IMO.
Willow Tits tend to have a larger rounded head which gives the bird the appearance of having a bull-neck. You can't see this well on your photo, but I do think this would be more obvious if it was a Willow. The cheeks are also whiter and extend further down the mantle on Willow, perhaps the most obvious feature lacking in your photo.
The sure fire way to tell them apart (except on call) in my opinion is the pale cutting edge to the mandible, which I've never yet seen a Willow Tit with(although Poecile may have to remind we whether Marsh's always have them). Unfortunately you can't really see the cutting-edges to the mandibles on your photo.
I never go with the shiny cap or pale wing panal thing as these can vary according to lighting conditions or feather wear. The bib is a good clue, being smaller and neater on Marsh, but this varies with the age and sex of birds to the point where they can't be seperated on this IMO.
Willow Tits tend to have a larger rounded head which gives the bird the appearance of having a bull-neck. You can't see this well on your photo, but I do think this would be more obvious if it was a Willow. The cheeks are also whiter and extend further down the mantle on Willow, perhaps the most obvious feature lacking in your photo.
The sure fire way to tell them apart (except on call) in my opinion is the pale cutting edge to the mandible, which I've never yet seen a Willow Tit with(although Poecile may have to remind we whether Marsh's always have them). Unfortunately you can't really see the cutting-edges to the mandibles on your photo.
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