— PARIDAE —
© Frank Jarvis
GREAT TIT (Parus major) - Mésange charbonnière
A very common bird of woodlands and forests that has thrived in gardens and agricultural areas. Its basic song has many variations but is a ringing “teacher-teacher-teacher” :
COAL TIT (Periparus ater) - Mésange noire
Common in all woodlands but especially in pine forests up to the treeline. Its song is variable but all variants are based on the same basic two-note see-sawing “whee-choo”:
BLUE TIT (Cyanistes caerulius) - Mésange bleue
Found in most habitats below 1500m and a common garden bird in the lowlands. The song is a complex mixture of a harsh “churr” preceded by high-pitched notes:
CRESTED TIT (Lophophanes cristatus) - Mésange huppée
Found in pine forests from 500m up to the treeline this tiny active bird is lovely to look at. The song is quite faint and easily overlooked:
MARSH TIT (Poecile palustris) - Mésange nonnette
Despite the name this is a woodland bird found up to 1500m. Very difficult to separate from Willow Tit by eye, but with a diagnostic explosive call:
WILLOW TIT (Poecile montanus) - Mésange boréale
Common in all woodlands but especially in pine forests up to the treeline at 2500m. There are two subspecies in Switzerland that have different songs, so voice is key in identifying this species: