Parus ater

Currently Coal Tits are the commonest bird in my BTO garden bird survey.  This is a bit unusual as they are cantankerous to say the least.  While there may be as many as 5 at or near the feeders they never allow any other individual near them.  To the extent that they will stop feeding to chase the other away, in the mean time the place is filled by another one of the five.

Coal Tits have shown a slight (4%) increase in population over the last 40 years.  They are found throughout the British Isles for both breeding and during the winter.  They also have the habit of hiding seeds they take from the feeders, so if you have sunflower seed in your feeder and Coal Tits expect Sunflowers popping up in strange places.  they have even occurred in our hanging baskets.