Tufted Titmouse - Photos by Bruce Dayton - Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Paridae (Chickadees and Titmice - 10 Species)
SPECIES: Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Tufted Titmouse
The Tufted Titmouse range has expanded in northern regions most likely because of the increase in bird feeders and the availability of natural cavities for nesting as the forests mature. They prefer moist and swampy areas and their populations are much greater in areas where the rainfall is more than 25 inches.
SIZE	The Tufted Titmouse is a small (6-6 1/2”) songbird.
DESCRIPTION	They have gray upperparts and whitish underparts, flanks buff with a white face, a gray crest and a dark forehead. Sexes are similar in appearance.
NESTING	Clutch size ranges from 4-8 eggs, which are incubated in 12 to 14 days. The Tufted Titmouse prefers large patches of woodland for nesting. The nest is a cup of moss, bark, and hair placed at the bottom of an old woodpecker hole or a tree cavity.
RANGE	The northern boundary extends eastward through Michigan, Ontario, and northern New York. Eastern area extends down the Atlantic coast, from middle New England as far as southern Florida and south to the Gulf coast to Texas.
HABITAT	Preferred habitats include swampy or moist woodlands, and urban shade trees
DIET	The Tufted Titmouse's diet consist of oak and beech mast, pine seeds, blueberry, blackberry, mulberry, bayberry and hackberry. They forage actively on branches, sometimes on the ground, mainly eating insects, especially caterpillars. They will store food for later use.

INTERESTING FACTS

Bird feeding tips - Spring

1. Keep finch feeders stocked with Niger thistle to attract Goldfinches, Redpolls, and Siskins.
2. A general feeder filled with the staples, such as a mixture of (mostly) Black oil sunflower seeds, cracked corn, safflower seeds and a blend mixture.
3. A commercial suet cake should be provided throughout the spring.
4. Source of fresh water.

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The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit.




Tufted Titmouse

Sapsucker Woods Bird Sanctuary Tompkins County, New York


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Groton Township Tompkins County, New York


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Bank Swallow Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes