The willow tit (Poecile montanus) is a passerine bird in the tit family, Paridae, commonly found in temperate and subarctic regions of Europe and the Palearctic. Its plumage features grey-brown and off-white colors, a black cap, and a black bib. The willow tit is more specialized for coniferous habitats than the marsh tit, enabling it to breed further north, and it typically does not migrate.
It can be identified by its sooty brown cap, as opposed to the glossy blue-black cap of the marsh tit. The underparts are more buff, and the flanks have a rufous hue. Additionally, the pale buff edges on the wings create a light patch when closed. Although the crown feathers and the bib are longer in the willow tit, this distinction is not easily seen.
