Sporting a mix of blue, yellow, white, green and black, the unmistakable Blue Tit reflects the colours of a planet affected by a burgeoning human population. Fortunately, Blue Tits are adapting well to modern humanity, taking advantage of our propensity to feed birds in our gardens and provide boxes for them to nest in. In turn, this feisty little species provides an excellent model for biological research. This book is the result of a personal quest by author Martyn Stenning to bring together a range of discoveries into one accessible volume.

The Blue Tit begins by inviting readers into the intimate lives of these birds as they attempt to reproduce, describing the many challenges they face when rearing their offspring. The story moves on to the fluid state of Blue Tit classification across the native Palearctic range, before progressing into population structure, lifetime ecology and an exploration of factors that determine breeding success. It culminates with an in-depth look at research over the years, followed by a selection of personal anecdotes and an overview of Blue Tit appearances in folklore and poetry.

This book provides a definitive record of the biology and ecology of one of our most popular, intelligent and charismatic birds.

Martyn Stenning developed an interest in natural history early in his childhood. From 'Microscope Monitor' at primary school to a focus on science at secondary school, as well as being an avid reader of wildlife books and investigator of nature, he was destined for the academic study of ecology. Following an HND in Biology, Martyn joined the University of Sussex Biological Sciences team in 1976. He gained a master's degree by thesis on Pied Flycatchers in 1984, followed by a DPhil on Blue Tits in 1995, and wrote a number of scientific publications on each of these species. Other subjects of study over the years have included chalk downland plants, tropical aquatic snails, dormice and - inevitably - other bird species.