The crested tit, or European crested tit (Lophophanes cristatus), is a passerine bird in the tit family, Paridae. It breeds in coniferous forests of central and northern Europe and in deciduous woodlands in France and the Iberian Peninsula. In Great Britain, it is mainly found in the pinewoods of Inverness and Strathspey in Scotland, with few records from England. The crested tit is non-migratory.
Easily recognized by its distinctive crest and unique gorget, the crested tit is vocal, often heard making a “zee, zee, zee” call similar to that of the coal tit. It nests in rotting stumps and feeds low in trees. While not particularly shy, it can be difficult to approach and often joins winter flocks with other tit species, feeding on insects and seeds.
