The Crested Tit is distributed in most of continental Europe and into the Ural mountains but only in the north of Scotland as far as the British Isles are concerned. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. In northern Europe it prefers pine forest and in Scotland it is particularly associated with Scots Pine. Further south in Europe it is found in mixed woodlands.

It is a small bird with brownish upperparts and dirty white underparts. The head is neatly patterned in black and white and has a prominent crest.