Tufted Titmouse Bird Facts (Baeolophus bicolor)

The Tufted Titmouse is a small, plump bird with a distinctive crest on its head. Its upperparts are soft gray, contrasting with white underparts and rusty flanks. The forehead is black, and it has a pale ring around its large, dark eye.

Both sexes look alike, with juveniles closely resembling adults. The bird's appearance remains consistent throughout the year, with no seasonal plumage changes.

The Tufted Titmouse can be found in Woodland habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse can be found in Garden habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse can be found in Urban habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Tufted Titmouse is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Tufted Titmice are native to eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Canada to northeastern Mexico. They thrive in deciduous and mixed woodlands, often near forest edges and clearings.

These birds are year-round residents throughout their range, showing a slight northward expansion in recent decades. They are common in the eastern United States and frequently seen in suburban areas with mature trees and backyard feeders.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Tufted Titmouse. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Canada

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

United States of America

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Tufted Titmouse displays remarkable agility, regularly performing acrobatic manoeuvres whilst foraging. Their ability to hang upside down and navigate through branches with quick, jerky movements demonstrates exceptional aerial dexterity.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst small in stature, these birds possess notable strength relative to their size, capable of carrying seeds and nuts weighing nearly half their body weight. Their ability to hammer open tough seeds also indicates decent strength for their size class.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Highly adaptable birds that thrive across various woodland environments and have successfully colonised suburban areas. Their varied diet, ability to cache food, and recent range expansion northward demonstrate strong adaptive capabilities.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Generally peaceful birds that readily form mixed-species flocks. Whilst they defend their territories during breeding season, they show limited aggressive behaviour compared to many other species, preferring social interactions.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

These year-round residents maintain active foraging throughout the day and across seasons, demonstrating good endurance. Their ability to survive harsh winter conditions and sustain breeding duties whilst maintaining territory suggests solid stamina.

Tufted Titmice have a varied diet consisting of insects, seeds, and berries. In spring and summer, they primarily consume caterpillars, beetles, and other arthropods.

During fall and winter, they shift to a diet rich in acorns, beechnuts, and sunflower seeds, often caching food for later consumption.

Tufted Titmice are active and acrobatic foragers, often seen hanging upside down to glean insects from tree branches. They are known for their habit of carrying large seeds to a perch, holding them with their feet, and hammering them open with their strong beak.

These birds are social, frequently joining mixed-species flocks outside of breeding season.

The Tufted Titmouse is known for its clear, whistled 'peter-peter-peter' song, often repeated in sets of three or four.

They also produce a variety of calls, including a nasal 'tsee-day-day-day' when alarmed and soft, musical chirps during social interactions. Their vocalizations are loud and carry well through wooded areas.

Tufted Titmice form monogamous pairs and begin breeding in early spring. Males court females with soft calls and by offering food.

Nests are built in tree cavities or nest boxes, typically 3-6 meters above ground. The female constructs the nest using moss, leaves, and bark strips, lining it with soft materials like animal fur.

The female lays 5-7 white eggs with reddish-brown spots and incubates them for about 14 days. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after 15-18 days but may remain with the family group for several weeks.

The Tufted Titmouse typically lives for 2 to 3 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 13.3 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While the Tufted Titmouse is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces challenges from habitat loss due to urbanization and climate change.

Conservation efforts focus on preserving deciduous forests and promoting bird-friendly urban landscapes. Citizen science projects help monitor population trends.

Look for Tufted Titmice in deciduous and mixed woodlands, especially near forest edges.
Listen for their distinctive 'peter-peter-peter' call, which is often repeated.
Check bird feeders, as they readily visit for sunflower seeds and suet.
Observe their quick, jerky movements as they forage in trees and shrubs.

Main predators of Tufted Titmice include hawks, owls, and domestic cats. Squirrels and snakes may prey on eggs and nestlings in tree cavities.

Tufted Titmice often line their nests with animal hair, sometimes plucking it directly from living mammals.
Young Tufted Titmice may stay with their parents through the winter, helping to raise the next year's brood.
These birds can carry seeds and nuts of nearly half their own body weight.

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