Coal tit / Tannenmeise (Periparus ater)

Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU YouTube

Observations

First documented observation: 2020-04-18 in Hungerseeli. Most recent observation: 2026-04-29 in Switzerland.

Description

Classification: Genus Periparus (Periparus); Family Titmice (Paridae)
General: Periparus ater at Xeno-Canto - a small classification fight
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Etymology:

The German Wikipedia page says 'ater' from the genus 'Periparus ater' is Latin for 'düster' meaning dark or even gloomy. [Link]

In German the name means fir tit - so obviously found in woods with many firs [Link]
Appearance and identification: Nabu: Mit ihrem schwarzen Kopf und den weißen Wangen erinnert sie an eine kleine Kohlmeise, jedoch ist die Unterseite der Tannenmeise eher beige statt gelb, und ihr fehlt der dunkle Längsstreifen an der Unterseite. [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-01 - 08-09
Migration in: 03-23 - 05-31
Migration out: 08-18 - 10-27

More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=11 cm, wingspan=17-21 cm, weight=8-10 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: Higher-pitched than great tit, with more slurs instead of pure notes. Usually 2 or 3 notes in varied order. To me it seems they have a repertoire of songs, like their 'big brothers', the great tits.
Song:

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). [Link] Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic (lhlhlhl), fast, Frequency: 3-9 KHz Special sounds: slur
Tannenmeise Gesang plus 2 andere TBI von etwas 19 bis 22 Sekunden. Fehraltorf 2026-02-24 15:40:02 Melody: lhlhlhl ♫ 2026-02-24 15:40:02

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

Eichwäldli, tannenmeise , gartenbaumläufer rufe. Thon, Schwanden 2024-08-07 08:17:00 Melody: lmhlmhlm Callers: Coal tit, Short-toed treecreeper🐦
♫ 2024-08-07 08:17:00 Thon, Schwanden (call)

Tannenmeise plus kettensäge. Luppmen 2020-12-14 11:41:25 Melody: lmhlmhlmh ♫ 2020-12-14 11:41:25 Luppmen (song)

Tannenmeise , Buntspecht, Aaskrähe, Kohlmeise, weiter weg ein Amsel. 2023-02-23 17:17:08 Melody: lmh Singers: Coal tit, Great spotted woodpecker🐦, Carrion crow🐦, Great tit🐦, Common blackbird🐦
♫ 2023-02-23 17:17:08

Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

MerlinBirdId meint Kernbeisser - immer wieder mit einer Sekunde Pause dazwischen, dazwischen höre ich eventuell unregelmäissge Rufe eines Rotkehlchen und ab und zu Tannenmeisen. Fehraltorf 2026-02-24 15:56:58 Melody: hl Callers: Hawfinch, European robin🐦, Coal tit🐦
♫ 2026-02-24 15:56:58

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (call)

Calls:

Call: short soft and clear "piu", first rapidly rising and then falling in pitch. [Link] Typical coal tit calls do a slide between two notes high-low alarm call but simple song-like calls too
XC539352 coal tit 1m04.

XC539352 coal tit 1m04. ♫ (song?)

Call attributes: Call melody: two notes, slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz),

Media

Sad - a dead coal tit? - TBI. 2025-06-01 12:25:21 Etna	Tannenmeise. 2024-06-24 14:04:38 Mettmenalp, GL	Tannenmeise weiss nicht dass er in einem Tannenbaum gehört. 2024-06-24 14:04:36 Mettmenalp, GL
Tannenmeise bei St. 2023-02-05 15:25:54 St. Moritz	Tannenmeise, Ammler Höhenweg. 2021-08-02 15:02:46 Ammler Höhenweg	Tannenmeise balanciert mit dem Flügel, Ammler Höhenweg. 2021-08-02 15:02:46 Ammler Höhenweg

Tannenmeise bei Hirzli - 3-note descending riff repeated in groups of 2-4. Hirzli 2020-07-13 13:21:29 ♫ 2020-07-13 13:21:29 Hirzli (song?)

Tannenmeise bei Hirzli - nice little melodies. Hirzli 2020-07-13 13:16:52 ♫ 2020-07-13 13:16:52 Hirzli (song?)

Tannenmeise bei Hirzli - high-lo sliding back to middle. Hirzli 2020-07-13 13:19:40 ♫ 2020-07-13 13:19:40 Hirzli (song?)

Tannenmeise bei Hirzli - like a mixture of the previous two. Hirzli 2020-07-13 13:18:19 ♫ 2020-07-13 13:18:19 Hirzli (song?)

Tannenmeise bei Hirzli - 2-note song. Hirzli 2020-07-13 13:15:05 ♫ 2020-07-13 13:15:05 Hirzli (song?)

Tannenmeise im Wald nah beim Hungerseeli Hungerseeli 2020-04-18 17:17:38 ♫ 2020-04-18 17:17:38 Hungerseeli (song?)

Tannenmeise bei Reservoir Halden - fast 2-note riff repeated 5 times Luppmen 2020-04-19 16:15:59 ♫ 2020-04-19 16:15:59 Luppmen (song?)

Birdnet 1035 Oberreitenbachholzweg - Coal tit - Fehraltorf. Fehraltorf 2020-10-22 15:45:25 ♫ 2020-10-22 15:45:25 Fehraltorf (song?)

Eurasian bullfinch and coal tit by Bachtal. Switzerland 2025-08-31 11:41:00 Singers: Eurasian bullfinch, Coal tit🐦
♫ 2025-08-31 11:41:00 Switzerland (song?)

Tannenmeise bei Zelgli, Fehraltorf. Fehraltorf 2025-03-17 12:43:57 ♫ 2025-03-17 12:43:57

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

MerlinSoundId MBI says Cirl bunting, European serin, Coal tit, European robin, Eurasian blue tit, Black cap warbler, Common chaffinch, Common chiffchaff, Common blackbird. Switzerland 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Singers: Cirl bunting, European serin🐦, Coal tit🐦, European robin🐦, Eurasian blue tit🐦, Black cap warbler🐦, Common chaffinch🐦, Common chiffchaff🐦, Common blackbird🐦
♫ 2025-06-01 11:30:00 Switzerland (song?)

Tannenmeise, Buchfink. Switzerland 2025-03-09 10:00:26 Singers: Coal tit, Common chaffinch🐦
♫ 2025-03-09 10:00:26

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

Birdnet mobile 5502070209 recording 48 Tannenmeise. Greater Fehraltorf 2024-08-03 11:28:48 ♫ 2024-08-03 11:28:48 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

Birdnet 311 - Coal tit DUPLICATE. Luppmen 2020-04-19 16:16:05 ♫ 2020-04-19 16:16:05 Luppmen (song?)

MerlinSoundId MBI says Coal tit, Common chaffinch, Common blackbird @ Pféffikon, Ziirich, CH. Switzerland 2025-05-14 17:08:00 Singers: Coal tit, Common chaffinch🐦, Common blackbird🐦
♫ 2025-05-14 17:08:00 Switzerland (song?)

Birdnet 1032 almost certain Oberreitenbachholzweg - Coal tit - Fehraltorf. Fehraltorf 2020-10-22 15:34:45 ♫ 2020-10-22 15:34:45 Fehraltorf (song?)

Birdnet 1206 plus coal tit - Goldcrest - Adelboden. Adelboden 2021-02-20 12:46:15 Singers: Coal tit, Goldcrest🐦
♫ 2021-02-20 12:46:15 Adelboden (song?)

Birdnet 1463 - Mistle Thrush plus Coal tit, intersection Waldgasse and Keltenweg - Mistle Thrush - Fehraltorf. Fehraltorf 2021-04-21 08:54:48 Singers: Mistle thrush, Coal tit🐦
♫ 2021-04-21 08:54:48 Fehraltorf (song?)

Birdnet 610 - Coal tit. Sils 2020-06-11 13:14:06 ♫ 2020-06-11 13:14:06 Sils (song?)

Birdnet 959 tu twi 2 noter highly likely - Coal tit - Fehraltorf. Fehraltorf 2020-09-30 17:01:52 ♫ 2020-09-30 17:01:52 Fehraltorf (song?)

Birdnet 1847 - Coal Tit, in town in St Moritz - Coal Tit - Sils im Engadin. Sils 2021-07-25 13:59:48 ♫ 2021-07-25 13:59:48 Sils (song?)

Birdnet 609 - Coal tit. Sils 2020-06-11 13:14:00 ♫ 2020-06-11 13:14:00 Sils (song?)

Birdnet 1326 - Coal Tit - 2021-03-29 10:54:38 - Coal Tit - Fehraltorf. Fehraltorf 2021-03-29 10:54:38 ♫ 2021-03-29 10:54:38 Fehraltorf (song?)

Birdnet 1075 chirpy call, coal tit in background - Great spotted woodpecker - Fehraltorf. Fehraltorf 2020-11-08 16:02:44 Callers: Coal tit, Great spotted woodpecker🐦
♫ 2020-11-08 16:02:44 Fehraltorf (call)

Tannenmeise Gesang plus Zirpen eines anderenen Vogels TBI. Fehraltorf 2026-02-24 15:36:44 Melody: lhlhlhl ♫ 2026-02-24 15:36:44

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song)

Singdrossel Gesang, Tannenmeise Gesang, Buntspecht trommeln, Rabenkraeue Rufe. Fehraltorf 2026-02-24 16:11:26 Callers: Song thrush, Coal tit🐦, Great spotted woodpecker🐦
♫ 2026-02-24 16:11:26

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (drumming)

Birdweather-Coal Tit. Greater Fehraltorf 2024-10-31 13:56:47 ♫ 2024-10-31 13:56:47 Greater Fehraltorf (song?)

Tannenmeise am Gesangweg bei Lendikon. Switzerland 2025-03-09 10:28:52 ♫ 2025-03-09 10:28:52

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song)

Vogelkonzert bei Staldenweiher - Kohlmeise, Buchfink, Tannenmeise, Trommeln von Buntspecht oder Schwarzspecht, Singdrossel. Staldenweiher 2025-03-04 09:25:21 Callers: Great tit, Common chaffinch🐦, Coal tit🐦, Great spotted woodpecker🐦, Black woodpecker🐦, Song thrush🐦
♫ 2025-03-04 09:25:21

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Staldenweiher (drumming)

MerlinSoundId MBI says Coal tit, Common chaffinch, Common blackbird @ Pféffikon, Ziirich, CH. Switzerland 2025-05-14 17:09:00 Singers: Coal tit, Common chaffinch🐦, Common blackbird🐦
♫ 2025-05-14 17:09:00 Switzerland (song?)

Tannenmeise, Zaunkönig plus TBI 3-noten Ruf im Wald beim Staldenweiher. Staldenweiher 2026-02-26 08:57:24 Callers: Coal tit, Eurasian wren🐦
♫ 2026-02-26 08:57:24

Source: Zoom H2n Staldenweiher (call)

Birdnet 1335 - Coal Tit - 2021-03-29 11:27:53 - Coal Tit - Fehraltorf. Fehraltorf 2021-03-29 11:27:53 ♫ 2021-03-29 11:27:53 Fehraltorf (song?)

Tannenmeise Rufe bei Hirzli. Hirzli 2025-09-06 14:29:00 ♫ 2025-09-06 14:29:00 Hirzli (call)

Birdnet 1205 - Coal Tit - Adelboden. Adelboden 2021-02-20 12:46:10 ♫ 2021-02-20 12:46:10 Adelboden (song?)

Tannenmeise singt lmhx4 im Wald bei Speck. Wald bei Speck 2025-04-19 16:26:18 ♫ 2025-04-19 16:26:18

Source: Zoom H2n Wald bei Speck (song?)

Birdnet - Coal tit - Fehraltorf. Fehraltorf 2020-11-08 16:02:06 ♫ 2020-11-08 16:02:06 Fehraltorf (song?)

Eichwäldli, tannenmeise , gartenbaumläufer rufe, Zaunkönig. Thon, Schwanden 2024-08-07 08:17:00 Melody: lmhlmhlm Callers: Coal tit, Short-toed treecreeper🐦, Eurasian wren🐦
♫ 2024-08-07 08:17:00 Thon, Schwanden (call)

Tannenmeise rising and falling, bei Zelgli, Fehraltorf. Fehraltorf 2025-03-17 12:44:16 ♫ 2025-03-17 12:44:16

Source: Zoom H2n Fehraltorf (song?)

Singdrossel, Kohlmeise, Sumpfmeise oder Tannenmeise, Trommeln von Buntspecht oder Schwarzspecht. Switzerland 2025-03-04 09:26:58 Callers: Song thrush, Great tit🐦, Marsh tit🐦, Coal tit🐦, Great spotted woodpecker🐦, Black woodpecker🐦
♫ 2025-03-04 09:26:58

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (drumming)

Wald bei Speck, Singdrossel Gesang, plus Zaunkönig Gesang bei 40 Sek, Kohlmeise, Buchfink, Tannenmeise, im Hintergrund evtl Sumpfmeise, Buntspecht. Wald bei Speck 2023-06-13 12:53:22 Singers: Song thrush, Eurasian wren🐦, Great tit🐦, Common chaffinch🐦, Coal tit🐦, Marsh tit🐦, Great spotted woodpecker🐦
♫ 2023-06-13 12:53:22

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Wald bei Speck (song)

Tannenmeise plus kettensäge. Luppmen 2020-12-14 11:41:25 Melody: lmhlmhlmh ♫ 2020-12-14 11:41:25 Luppmen (song)

Birdnet 493 plus tannenmeise - removed firecrest - Common firecrest. Luppmen 2020-05-09 16:31:51 Singers: Coal tit, Common firecrest🐦
♫ 2020-05-09 16:31:51 Luppmen (song?)

Birdnet 311 - Coal tit. Luppmen 2020-04-19 16:16:05 ♫ 2020-04-19 16:16:05 Luppmen (song?)

Definitiv Singdrossel und Buchfink, um die Zeit hat MerlinBirdId gesagt Misteldrossel, Amsel, Buntspecht, Tannenmeise und Rotkehlchen, auch Sommer-goldhähnchen was nicht stimmt. Gsangweg 2026-03-07 08:00:16 Singers: Song thrush, Common chaffinch🐦, Mistle thrush🐦, Common blackbird🐦, Great spotted woodpecker🐦, Coal tit🐦, European robin🐦, Canary islands kinglet🐦
♫ 2026-03-07 08:00:16

Source: Zoom H2n Gsangweg (song?)

Wintergoldhähnchen, Tannenmeise uva im Wald Fehraltorf. Wald Fehraltorf 2024-05-13 07:49:00 Singers: Goldcrest, Coal tit🐦
♫ 2024-05-13 07:49:00 Wald Fehraltorf (song?)

Birdnet 493 plus tannenmeise - Common firecrest. Luppmen 2020-05-09 16:31:51 Singers: Coal tit, Common firecrest🐦
♫ 2020-05-09 16:31:51 Luppmen (song?)

Wintergoldhähnchen Rufe bei 8kHz, teilweise abgewechselt mit Tannenmeise Rufe. Switzerland 2025-09-06 14:37:00 Callers: Goldcrest, Coal tit🐦
♫ 2025-09-06 14:37:00 Switzerland (call)

Birdnet 1378 - Willow Tit or Coal Tit - Willow Tit - Lugano. Lugano 2021-04-01 13:35:30 Singers: Willow tit, Coal tit🐦
♫ 2021-04-01 13:35:30 Lugano (song?)

Birdnet 786 Bei Hirzli - Coal tit. Hirzli 2020-07-13 13:14:21 ♫ 2020-07-13 13:14:21 Hirzli (song?)

Tannenmeise en parque en Madrid. Madrid 2024-07-14 12:51:00 ♫ 2024-07-14 12:51:00 Madrid (song?)

Birdnet 658 plus common Redstart - Coal tit. Locarno 2020-06-14 17:56:23 Singers: Common redstart, Coal tit🐦
♫ 2020-06-14 17:56:23 Locarno (song?)

Birdnet 962 lots calls in foreground, - Coal tit - Uster. Uster 2020-09-30 17:06:52 ♫ 2020-09-30 17:06:52 Uster (call)

Birdnet 1381 - Coal Tit at San Grato, Carona - Coal Tit - Lugano. Carona 2021-04-01 13:38:04 ♫ 2021-04-01 13:38:04 Carona (song?)

Birdnet 598 - Coal tit. Sils 2020-06-09 12:31:06 ♫ 2020-06-09 12:31:06 Sils (song?)

Birdnet - Coal tit at Prägelpass. Pragelpass 2020-07-31 11:50:26 ♫ 2020-07-31 11:50:26 Pragelpass (song?)

Tannenmeise nah bei Fauchrüti. Switzerland 2025-03-06 13:47:31 ♫ 2025-03-06 13:47:31

Source: Zoom H6/H2n Switzerland (song?)

9 Vogelarten am Pfäffikersee, u.a. Buntspecht, Tannenmeise, Buchfink. Pfäffikersee 2026-02-27 15:52:00 Singers: Great spotted woodpecker, Coal tit🐦, Common chaffinch🐦
♫ 2026-02-27 15:52:00 Pfäffikersee (song?)

Birdnet mobile 5502070209 recording 40 Tannenmeise in Parque Retiro, Madrid, mit Zikaden im Hintergrund. Madrid ♫ Madrid (song?)

Birdnet 1423 - Coal Tit in Parco Botanico Gambarogno - Coal Tit - Gambarogno. Gambarogno 2021-04-08 12:29:30 ♫ 2021-04-08 12:29:30 Gambarogno (song?)

Tannenmeise bei Bever. Switzerland 2025-10-16 14:03:00 ♫ 2025-10-16 14:03:00 Switzerland (song?)

Birdnet 288 wald bei hungerseeli - Coal tit. Hungerseeli 2020-04-18 17:17:20 ♫ 2020-04-18 17:17:20 Hungerseeli (song?)

Im Wald bei Flughafen Speck vor allen Singdrossel und Tannenmeisen, aber Merlin hat auch Amsel, Rotkehlchen, Mönchsgrasmücke, Kohlmeise, Ringeltaube und Buntspecht gemeldet. Switzerland 2026-04-29 17:59:18 Singers: Song thrush, Coal tit🐦, Merlin🐦, Common blackbird🐦, European robin🐦, Black cap warbler🐦, Great tit🐦, Common wood pigeon🐦, Great spotted woodpecker🐦
♫ 2026-04-29 17:59:18

Source: Zoom H2n Switzerland (song?)

Additional Images

Web pages with this species:

Besuch bei Ruedi auf der Alp, Wandern auf dem Ammler Höhenweg / Spring in Switzerland, 2024 / Summer in Switzerland, 2024 / Birding excursion in Appenzell/St. Gallen with Tom Bischof, April 2024 / Zwei Tage im Berghotel Mettmen als Geschenk an Ruedi für seinen 75 Geburtstag. Das heisst natürlich auch Wandern und Vögel und Natur fotografieren. / Madrid for MadCool, July 9-14 2024 / Fall and winter at home / Winter at home / Spring is the thing, time to sing - 2025 / Three weeks on Sicily and other islands / Another year: 2026