Tufted Titmouse

“The tufted titmouse has a simple song but can vary its tune in at least 20 ways.“

The tufted titmouse is a relatively small songbird native to North America. It is a species of the chickadee family and related to other titmice. Thanks to DNA research, this species was recently separated into several other species.

3 Amazing Tufted Titmouse Facts

• Song-lover: This songbird has a simple peter-peter-peter song. However, depending on the bird and the situation, it can vary in over 20 ways.
• Friend of Birdfeeders: This bird’s range has increased substantially thanks to bird feeders, which have allowed this species to find food outside of its original range throughout the year.
• Curious: This species exhibits a lot of curiosity and is known to peek into houses.

Habitat and Migration

The tufted titmouse does not migrate. Therefore, it remains in its home area throughout the whole year. This species initially stayed in the Ohio and Mississippi River basins. Because it is non-migratory, it must be able to find food in its home area throughout the year, preventing it from being found very far north. However, bird feeders have changed this, as this species extends its range North.

This bird prefers deciduous and mixed woods. However, you can also spot it in gardens and shrublands. It isn’t very particular about the trees it spends time in.

Nests

The tufted titmouse nests in holes – most often, holes in trees. However, they will also utilize human-made nesting boxes and old woodpecker nests. They don’t seem to care how the hole got there—just as long as they can use it.

Generally, they build their nests similarly to other birds. They usually line them with soft materials, such as animal hair. Some observers have seen them plucking animal hair from live animals, including dogs. Nests have also been found containing snakeskin, which is a soft material.

Scientific Name and Species

The tufted titmouse gets its genus, Baeolophus, from the Greek words baios and lophos, which roughly translates into “small crested”. Its scientific name is Baeolophus bicolor, which simply means two-colored. Therefore, the bird’s scientific name translates into “small-crested, two-colored.”

The Baeolophus genus contains five species, all of which have the common name “titmouse.” These birds have a slightly different range, which explains their slight physical differences. Initially, this genus was contained within the genus Parus. However, after DNA analysis showed notable genetic differences, the American Ornithological Society recently separated it into a different category.

The tufted titmouse falls into the Paridae family. These family members are commonly referred to as “tits” or “chickadees,” depending on where you are.

Evolution

The tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) and black-crested titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) are related species within the Paridae family, and they share a common ancestor with the European crested tit (Lophophanes cristatus) and bridled titmouse (Parus galbanus). The North American species likely split from their European relatives over 2.6 million years ago, with the tufted and black-crested titmice diverging around 250,000 years ago. Despite their similar calls and physical appearance, the two North American species have accumulated genetic differences, reflecting their adaptation to different environments and long-term separation. These genetic distinctions confirm them as separate species despite their shared ancestry.

Size, Appearance, and Behavior

These birds are relatively small. They usually only measure around 5.5 to 6.3 inches long, weigh around 0.6 to 0.9 ounces, and have a wingspan of 7.9 to 10.2 inches. This species has a white front and a grey body. It usually has rust-colored flanks and a black forehead. Its crest is grey and tufted, hence its common name. In younger birds, the black markings are not as obvious. Therefore, they can be harder to identify, as they are sometimes confused for the oak titmouse.

The tufted titmouse has demonstrated considerable curiosity. It isn’t odd for them to perch on a window, peer into a house, or follow people around their yard. They may also cling to windows and walls to seek out bugs. This is in keeping with the bird’s foraging strategy of searching for food everywhere.

As a very vocal bird, the tufted titmouse also seems to understand the sounds of other birds. They will respond to the calls of other animals and readily form flocks with their kind. However, when other tufted titmice aren’t available, they will form flocks with similar birds.

Diet and Foraging

The tufted titmouse will eat almost any berries, seeds, nuts, or other small plant materials. Furthermore, bugs and caterpillars also make up a large portion of their diet in the summer.

This species regularly visits bird feeders, especially in the north. In areas outside their usual range, these birds rely particularly on bird feeders for survival.

Typically, they gather food from the ground and branches. They tend to scout a food source from cover, fly in to grab a piece, and then fly away. They will not stand on a feeder and eat for an extended period like other birds. They are also known to hoard food in fall and winter and will carry a seed to a nearby hiding place, shell it, and store it. After many trips, the bird will have a stash in case the weather is too cold or a birdfeeder is no longer filled.

Predators and Threats

Cats and birds of prey most commonly eat the tufted titmouse. These predators are usually hawks, but just about any bird of prey will hunt the tufted titmouse if given a chance.

When birds are very young, they may also be eaten by snakes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and squirrels. Any ground predator getting into a nest will eat young birds or eggs. However, adults who can fly can usually escape these predators.

Reproduction, Young, and Molting

The eggs of the tufted titmouse are extremely small.  They measure under one inch and are usually white or off-white with purplish spots. A clutch can vary in size from five to seven eggs. Eggs must be incubated for 12-14 days. Then, the titmice must remain in the nest for another 15-16 days before they become fledglings.

Unlike most bird species, the titmouse stays with its parents throughout the first winter. Often, offspring will stay with their parents even longer. Sometimes, a bird will help raise its siblings the following year before mating when it turns two.

In the wild, the average titmouse only lives about 2.1 years. However, these birds can live in captivity for more than 10 years.

Due to their similarities, this species sometimes breeds with the black-crested titmouse. However, this only sometimes occurs because these birds do not have large overlapping areas in their ranges.

Population and Conservation Status

The tufted titmouse has an extensive range and population, increasing by about 1.5% yearly. Currently, its population is around 8 million. Therefore, unlike other animals, this species is doing quite well.

The tufted titmouse is currently listed as a Least Concern species.