A small, lively tit marked by a large black bib, clear white wingbars, and a broad white patch on the nape. It shows striking regional variation: birds from the Himalayas and China often have a neat little crest, those in North Africa show yellowish-stained cheeks, while European and Siberian birds are plainer, without a crest and with buff-toned flanks. It lives in coniferous and mixed woodland, forests, parks, and gardens, and readily visits feeders. Across much of its eastern range it is linked to foothill and mountain habitats. In autumn and winter it frequently joins mixed flocks, moving briskly through foliage and giving high, sharp calls. The rising and falling song differs across regions. It can be confused with the slightly larger Marsh Tit and Willow Tit, which have broader white cheek patches, duller plumage, and different voices.