Sadly both species have suffered a more than 50% population decline since the 1970's and both are now red listed as species of most conservation concern in the UK.
I photographed this bird this morning in a very gloomy and damp Monsal Dale.
Marsh Tit |
Various features have been suggested for separating the two species; the Marsh Tit tends to have a smaller bib and a dull rather than glossy black cap but these features are often unreliable or difficult to determine on a lone bird.
A pale mark above the cutting edge at the bill base in Marsh Tit has been relatively recently described (2008 and 2009) as a reliable way of separating the two. Where present this may be helpful as shown in photo above and the cropped image below.
Marsh Tit on left showing pale mark at base of bill generally absent on Willow on right |
Marsh Tit (left) and Willow Tit showing the black bib |
Willow Tit |
Locally the best places to look for Willow Tit are the feeding stations at Carsington and Ogston Reservoirs or slightly further away at Carr Vale.
There are occasional Willow Tit records from Flash Lane, Darley Hillside and Clough Wood but I have never come across Marsh Tit in the immediate Darley Dale area.
Lines 11 and 12 says ‘the Mrsh Tit tends to have a smaller bib and a dull rather than glossy cap . . .’, surely marsh tit has the glossier cap.
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