WILLOW TIT CALL

Willow Tit (Parus montanus) 11.5 cm; 10 g

The Willow Tit has the distinction of being the most recent British breeding species to be recognised. It was only separated from the March Tit at the end of the 19 century, and the difference between the two species can still be very difficult to distinguish.
The Willow most characteristic note is very harch, nasal 'tchay', or 'aig', usualy uttered in triplicate, sometimes preceded by 'chick' or 'chichit', but never by the March Tits 'pitchuu'; once the observer has learnt to recognise the almost grating quality of this note compared with the March Tits 'tchay', it can confidently be used to separate the two species. Another call-note which the March Tit lacks is the Willow Tits thin 'eez-eez-eez', not to be confused with the high pitched 'si-si-si' common to most tits. Song is also distinctive, but is not often heard; full song comprises a series of strikingly liquid garden-warbler-like notes, quite unlike those of any other Tit, interspersed with high-pitched aqlmost squeaky, notes and uttered with a blackcap's spasmodic delivery; an alternative and commoner song consists of full throated 'piu-piu' notes, not unlike the plainitive call of the wood warbler.

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