European Crested Tit: Nest & eggs

The European Crested Tit is a hole-nester that likes to prepare the nest site itself in soft, rotten wood, which makes it dependent on dead wood in the coniferous forest.

• Nest site: a hole in a decayed stump or a dead tree trunk, which the bird excavates or enlarges itself.
• Builder: the female lines the cavity with moss, lichens and animal hair.
• Nest box: the Crested Tit rarely takes ordinary nest boxes, preferring natural rotten wood instead.

The dependence on dead wood means the species thrives best in older, unmanaged coniferous forests with plenty of old stumps and fallen logs.

More about the European Crested Tit

• Song & calls
• Breeding
• Nest boxes
• Diet
• In winter