Appearance like a small Great Tit in black and white. Back led-grey (olive in British sub sp.), underparts off-white. Diagnostic elongated, white neck-patch and big triangular bib. Double wing-bars, small head and short tail.
Song: Various repeated motifs, consisting of two to three notes with alternating accents. Slightly similar to Great Tit, but faster, not so metallic and with a less full tone. Can be mistaken for Marsh Tit when singing single or double notes, but tone is softer and notes more clearly separated (if disyllabic). Call: short soft and clear "piu", first rapidly rising and then falling in pitch.
Song:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Birdlife ecology
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
Glossy black hood and plain, pale brown upperparts. Cheeks brownish towards nape. Small, rounded, black bib. Small pale spot on base of upper mandible (often surprisingly visible, despite small size). Very similar to Willow Tit, especially British sub.sp. Willow tit has bigger head, not so glossy cap, whiter cheeks, larger bib and pale wing panel.
Most easily identified by sound. Especially in areas where plumage is less distinct compared to Willow Tit, like in Britain. Most typical call an explosive, sneeze-like "pee-choo", starting high-pitched and ending on a lower note.
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Birdlife ecology
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species