(Linnaeus 1766)
 
(click on image for picture)
 
By Adeela Farisi
 
 
Common Names  
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Crusted Titmouse
  • Pete Bird
  • Tufted Chickadee
Higher Taxa 
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Passerifornes
  • Family: Paridae
  • Genus: Parus
  • Subgenus: Baeolophus
(Bent 1964) 

Identification 
      (see Bent 1964 and Peterson 1980 for more information) 
      The Tufted Titmouse is a small grayish -blue bird which is distinguished by the pointed feather crest on top of its head.  They are gray above, white below and have a rust color on their sides.  Tufted Titmice have  a gray crest and small black patch above their beak.  Males and females are very similar in appearance (http://www.birdsforever.com/titmouse.html).  The bird's length ranges from 5-6.5 inches and their wingspan  is 9.25-10.75.  An adult weighs 20.3-25.3 grams (http://www.oit.itd.umich.edu/bio/doc.cgi/
Chordata/Aves/Passeriformes/Paridae/Parus-bicolor.ftl).  The young titmice  are a light salmon color.  Their crest is not completely developed when they leave the nest.  Also, their colors are more subdued than the parents (Bent 1964).

Geography 
     Tufted Titmice range across the entire Eastern United States, excluding the southern most tip of  Florida (http://www.birdsforever.com/titmouse.html).
 

Parus bicolor

AREA STATUS REFERENCES
North America: 
Continental United States; Canada		 Yes Peterson, 1980
Eastern North America: 
United States east of Mississippi; 
Ontario and eastern Canada		 Yes Peterson, 1980
Southeastern United States: 
AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV		 Yes Peterson, 1980
Southern Appalachian States: 
AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV		 Yes Peterson, 1980
Coastal Plain Yes Bent, 1964
Piedmont Yes Peterson, 1980
Blue Ridge Mountains Yes Bent, 1964
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Yes Bent, 1964
Ridge and Valley Yes Peterson, 1980
Cumberland Plateau Yes Peterson, 1980
Central Arch Yes Peterson, 1980
Georgia Yes Peterson, 1980
Clarke County, Georgia Yes UGA Museum of Natural History
Sams Farm Yes Adeela Farisi, Pers. Ob.
Old Field
 ? -
Wetland
 ? -
Woods
 Yes Adeela Farisi, Pers. Ob.
1-Hectare Plot
 ? -
 
Natural History 
      Tufted Titmice are non-migratory birds who like to nest in holes or cavities in trees.  Their nests vary in size and shape (Bent 1964).  Their diet consists of 66% animal matter and 34% vegetable matter.  Among  their favorites are caterpillars and wasps (Bent 1964).  In the winter, titmice eat more berries, nuts, and seeds.  They like acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts and pine seeds.  They will cling to branches and look in bark crevices for insects.  Once in awhile they will forage on the ground (http://www.birdsforever.com/titmouse.html).
      The titmouse breeding season is between March and May.  Nests are anywhere from 3-90 feet above ground.  The female builds the nest and the male will bring her food.  Males pursue the females and are dominant.  These birds form pairs until the death of its partner.  Generally they have one brood a year.  If they have two, some from the first brood will stay and help the parents (http://www.oit.itd.umich.edu/bio/doc.cgi/Chordata/
Aves/Passeriformes/Paridae/Parus-bicolor.ftl).  A brood consists of 4-8 eggs, which are white with brown speckles.  The eggs hatch in 13-18 days and after 15-18 days the young leave the nest (http://www.birdsforever.com/titmouse.html).  The breeding density is considerably stable and when the population density is low, titmice will lay more eggs.  After the breeding season, birds reside in hierarchical flocks.  One of the oldest titmice recorded, as of 1983, was 13 years and 3 months; however, this is not common.  Life span for a titmouse is 2-3 years (Smith 1991).

Location: 
     Titmice live in deciduous woods and can be found near swamps and riversides.  They also can be seen in gardens and backyards.  They will visit feeders, which contain peanut kernels and striped sun-flower seeds  (http://www.birds.forever.com/chickadee.html). 
 


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