Great Tit photographed at Rue des Bergers [BER] on 10/10/2014 Photo: © J Friend (visit site)

Described by Smith as 'moderately common' in the late 1800s, Dobson found the Great Tit common and widespread in Guernsey circa 1950 and its status has changed little to this day. In Alderney, Dobson found it rare in 1946 just after the end of the Occupation, and the lack of tree cover may explain its rarity at this time. It is now common and widespread (Conder).

On all islands Great Tits may be found in all habitats with bushy vegetation or trees and favour woods, gardens and scrub. In winter it occurs in roving tit parties and large numbers concentrate around those gardens where supplementary food is provided.

Large numbers of Great Tits may also pass through the islands in autumn. Birds breeding in the Baltic states and further east undergo a migration to the central and southern regions of France and Spain. Although most autumn and winter recoveries from birds ringed in these areas have been further to the south of the Bailiwick, one first-year bird originally ringed at Pape, Latvia on 23 September 1971 was recovered at La Fougeraie, Sark on 7 November 1971. Although a remarkable recovery for Britain where very few foreign-ringed Great Tits have been reported, it is not all that surprising given the pattern of continental recoveries. Visible migration can be seen sometimes in the Bailiwick and irruptions have been recorded in a number of years, generally at migration hot-spots on coastal headlands. The autumn and winter of 1957 was a notable irruption year and the population was increase tenfold during the first few weeks of October (Transactions).