Tufted titmouse
A songbird that lives in the eastern half of the United States, the tufted titmouse has actually expanded its range northwards in recent times. As late as 1940, it was not found above New Jersey and Iowa for instance, but now inhabits New England and Michigan. The tufted titmouse is closely related to the chickadee and exhibits some of the same habits.
Instructions
1. Around bird feeders, watch for a bird that grabs a seed and then flies off with it. Titmice will fly to the feeder, take a seed and then fly away with it before stopping somewhere to eat it. They will hold the seed down with their feet to peck at it with their strong beak. Watch for small grayish birds that seem to be scouting out feeder stations. The cautious tufted titmouse will watch a feeder from afar, perching on a branch and looking things over before coming in and dining.
2. Look for a tuft of feathers on the head that turns into a crest. This gives the tufted titmouse its name. The feathers on the forehead shape into a crest, much like that seen on a blue jay but much smaller. The tufted titmouse is only about 5 inches long, with a gray head and back. The head is a darker shade of gray while the belly is white. On the sides is a reddish hue that is not quite hidden by their wings.
3. Focus on the acrobatic bird that can hang upside down in its search for food. Berries and insects are also on the menu of the tufted titmouse, and it has no trouble getting them from some spots that other birds would not be able to. Like the chickadee, it can hang inverted while grabbing a possible meal. They store food for the winter and are fond of suet.
4. Listen for the sound of “peter, peter, peter.” This is the trademark call of the species. It can also be appearing to loudly harass other birds that are causing it trouble at a feeder. This sound will be heard throughout the places that titmice live, such as forests, swamps, orchards and the suburbs.
5. Observe the company they keep. Titmice will be mixed with chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers, especially in the winter months. It is rare to see these other species frequenting a bird feeder without titmice.
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