Panurus biarmicus
A striking reedbed specialist, better known for its "moustache" than a beard.
Size: 12-14 cm | Habitat: Sea, Marsh, Estuary & Shoreline Birds | Season: All year
Despite its name, the bearded tit isn't a true tit at all. A small, long-tailed, tawny-orange bird found only in extensive reedbeds, males have a striking black "moustache" stripe rather than a beard, and a pale blue-grey head.
Long tail · tawny-orange plumage · black "moustache" stripe and blue-grey head (male) · found only in large reedbeds · pinging flight call
Bearded tits cling acrobatically to reed stems, feeding on insects in summer and switching to reed seeds in winter, and are often first detected by their distinctive "ping" call as small flocks fly low over the reed tops.
Bearded tits swallow grit each autumn to help their gizzard grind up tough reed seeds — their diet changes so much between summer and winter that their whole digestive system adapts to cope.
The Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus) isn't a true tit at all — a small, long-tailed, tawny-orange reedbed specialist, with males sporting a striking black "moustache" stripe rather than a beard, and a pale blue-grey head.
Found only in extensive reedbeds, bearded tits cling acrobatically to reed stems, switching their diet from insects in summer to reed seeds in winter — a change so significant that their whole digestive system adapts, with birds swallowing grit each autumn to help grind up the tougher winter diet.
Reedbed restoration across all four UK countries has helped bearded tit numbers grow from around 400 pairs four decades ago to roughly 700 pairs today, a genuine conservation success story reflected in its Green-listed status.
🟢 Conservation status: Green (UK Birds of Conservation Concern 5)
Green-listed under BoCC5, reflecting a healthy and growing population following decades of reedbed restoration work across the UK.