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Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
44.2237, -70.5134
Field Notes
Description:
A small gray bird (5.5–6.3 in, 14–16 cm) with a crest. "Soft silvery gray above and white below, with a rusty or peach-colored wash down the flanks. A black patch just above the bill makes the bird look snub-nosed. (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Titmouse/id/ac)"
"Tufted Titmice hoard food in fall and winter, a behavior they share with many of their relatives, including the chickadees and tits. Titmice take advantage of a bird feeder’s bounty by storing many of the seeds they get. Usually, the storage sites are within 130 feet of the feeder. The birds take only one seed per trip and usually shell the seeds before hiding them.
The oldest known wild Tufted Titmouse lived to be 13 years 3 months old. (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Titmouse/lifehistory/ac)"
Habitat:
"Tufted Titmice in most eastern woodlands below 2,000 feet elevation, including deciduous and evergreen forests. Tufted Titmice are also common visitors at feeders and can be found in backyards, parks, and orchards.(http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Titmouse/id/ac)"
"The Titmouse nest in tree holes (and nest boxes), but they can’t excavate their own nest cavities. Instead, they use natural holes and cavities left by woodpeckers. These species’ dependence on dead wood for their homes is one reason why it’s important to allow dead trees to remain in forests rather than cutting them down.
Tufted Titmice often line the inner cup of their nest with hair, sometimes plucked directly from living animals. The list of hair types identified from old nests includes raccoons, opossums, mice, woodchucks, squirrels, rabbits, livestock, pets, and even humans. (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Titmouse/lifehistory/ac"
Notes:
Two Tufted Titmice visited the feeder today. They are very fun to watch due to their acrobatics while feeding.
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