What does the Great Tit song sound like?
Parus major
Song Common
Play the real Great Tit song, the "tee-cher, tee-cher", and learn what to listen for.
“tee-cher, tee-cher”
What the Great Tit song sounds like
Clear, ringing two-note song repeated rapidly, used by males to proclaim territory in spring.
“tee-cher, tee-cher”
Birders often file this one under "Teacher-teacher".
How to find the bird singing it
Deciduous and mixed woodlands, hedgerows, orchards, parks, large gardens, and wooded urban areas.
- Head: Glossy black crown and throat with broad white cheeks forming a clean contrasting facial pattern.
- Breast Stripe: Bold black stripe running from throat down the yellow underparts; thicker in males than females.
- Upperparts: Olive-green mantle and back with bluish-grey wings edged whitish; single narrow white wing bar.
When you'll hear it
Spring
Loud territorial singing from males; courtship feeding; selecting nest cavities or boxes.
Summer
Busy feeding large broods of nestlings; adults look worn by late summer moult.
Autumn
Join mixed flocks; juveniles complete post-juvenile moult gaining adult plumage.
Winter
Frequent bird feeders; rely on stored seeds and fat; may show local roaming.
Great Tit song FAQ
What does a Great Tit song sound like?
Clear, ringing two-note song repeated rapidly, used by males to proclaim territory in spring. Birders write it as "tee-cher, tee-cher".
How do I tell a Great Tit from a Blue Tit by ear?
Blue Tit: Smaller and slimmer; Blue cap instead of black.
When is the best time to hear the Great Tit song?
Most individuals stay in the same area year-round, but some northern populations undertake small-scale south-westerly movements in harsh winters.
More Great Tit sounds
Great Tit: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.How to Learn Bird Songs by Ear: A Gentle Two-Week MethodLearning bird songs by ear sounds intimidating until you realize you already know a few — that robin in your yard, the chickadee at the feeder. Here is the gentle on-ramp: seven birds to learn first, a memory trick that works even if you cannot carry a tune, and a ten-minute-a-day rhythm that turns spring noise into named neighbors.How to Learn Bird Calls Fast: A 7-Day Spring PlanYou have seven days. You want seven birds. This is the plan: one new song per day, a mnemonic per bird, ten minutes you steal from your coffee break. Sunday-to-Sunday, you walk outside and a name lands in your head before you have time to think about it.The Dawn Chorus: Which Birds Sing First Each Morning (And Why)Every morning, as the first light touches the sky, birds like the American Robin and Northern Cardinal begin their symphony. But why do they choose dawn for their most vigorous singing?