Thetufted titmouse(Baeolophus bicolor) is a smallsongbirdfrom North America, a species in the tit and chickadee family (Paridae). Theblack-crested titmouse,found from central and southernTexassouthward,[2]was included as asubspeciesbut now is considered a separate species,Baeolophus atricristatus.[3]
| Tufted titmouse | |
|---|---|
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| Tufted titmouse in winter | |
| Call | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Paridae |
| Genus: | Baeolophus |
| Species: | B. bicolor
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| Binomial name | |
| Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus,1766)
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| Approximate distribution map
Year-round
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| Synonyms | |
|
Parus bicolorLinnaeus, 1766 | |
Taxonomy
editThe genus nameBaeolophustranslates tosmall crestedand is a compound of the Ancient Greek wordsβαιός:baiós— "small", andλόφος:"lόphοs" —crest. The species namebicolormeanstwo-colored.
Description
editMeasurements:[4]
- Length: 5.5–6.3 in (14–16 cm)
- Weight: 0.6–0.9 oz (17–26 g)
- Wingspan: 7.9–10.2 in (20–26 cm)
These small birds have a white front and grey upper body outlined with rust colored flanks. Other characteristics include their black foreheads and the tufted grey crest on their heads.[5]In juveniles, the black forehead is greatly diminished such that they may be confused with theoak titmouse(although their ranges do not overlap). Males tend to be larger than females.[6]
The song of the tufted titmouse is usually described as a whistledpeter-peter-peter,although this song can vary in approximately 20 notable ways.[7]
Distribution and habitat
editIts habitat isdeciduousand mixed woods as well as gardens, parks, and shrublands. Although the tufted titmouse is non-migratory and originally native to theOhioandMississippi Riverbasins, factors such as bird feeders have caused these birds to occupy a larger territory across the United States and stretching into Ontario and Quebec in Canada.[5][6][8]During the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st century, the species' range has been expanding northwards.[4]
Behavior and ecology
editThe tufted titmouse gathers food from the ground and from tree branches, frequently consuming a variety of berries, nuts, seeds, small fruits, insects, and other invertebrates.[9]Caterpillarsconstitute a major part of its diet during the summer. This species is also a regular visitor to bird feeders.[10]Its normal pattern is to scout a feeder from cover, fly in to take a seed, then fly back to shelter to consume the morsel, though caching is also very common.[9][11]
The titmouse can demonstrate curiosity regarding humans and sometimes will perch on a window ledge and seem to be peering into the house. It may also cling to the window frames and walls of buildings seeking prey in wasp and hornet nests.[citation needed]
Titmice are very vocal and will respond to sounds of agitation in other birds.[4]This species readily forms small flocks, known as troupes or banditries, which often associate withchickadeesand otherpasserineswhen foraging.[12]
Breeding
editTufted titmice nest in a hole in a tree, either a natural cavity, a human-made nest box, or sometimes an oldwoodpeckernest.[13]They line the nest with soft materials, sometimes plucking hair from live mammals to use as material, a behavior known askleptotrichy.[14][15]If they find snake skin sheds, they may incorporate pieces into their nest.[16]Eggs measure under 1 inch (2.5 centimetres) long and are white or cream-colored with brownish or purplish spots.[17]Eggs have an incubation period of 12–14 days; titmice will then remain nestlings for 15–16 days.[4]
The lifespan of the tufted titmouse is approximately 2.1 years, although it can live for more than ten years.[18]On average, these birds will have a clutch size of five to seven eggs.[19]Unlike many birds, the offspring of tufted titmice will often stay with their parents during the winter and even after the first year of their life.[20]Sometimes, a bird born the year before will help its parents raise the next year's young.[21]
Tufted titmice will occasionally hybridize with the black-crested titmouse; the hybridization range is very narrow, however, because of genetic differences.[6]
Status
editFrom 1966 to 2015 the tufted titmouse population has increased by more than 1.5% per year throughout the northeastern U.S.[22]The current breeding population is estimated to be approximately 8 million.[4]
Gallery
edit-
At a bird feeder. -
Facing forward. -
With a seed. -
Fluffed up while preening.
References
edit- ^BirdLife International (2016)."Baeolophus bicolor".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2016:e.T22711983A94314102.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22711983A94314102.en.Retrieved11 November2021.
- ^Kaufman, Kenn(13 November 2014)."Black-crested Titmouse".National Audubon Society.Retrieved13 October2019.
- ^Banks, Richard C.; Cicero, Carla; Dunn, Jon L.; Kratter, Andrew W.; Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Remsen, J. V.; Rising, James D.; Stotz, Douglas F. (1 July 2002)."Forty-Third Supplement to The American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds".The Auk.119(3): 897–906.doi:10.1093/auk/119.3.897.Retrieved13 October2019.
- ^abcde"Tufted Titmouse Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology".allaboutbirds.org.Retrieved28 September2020.
- ^abMcCommons, James (2003). "Tufted Titmouse".Emmaus.50:16.ProQuest203733124.
- ^abc"Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) General Biology |".Retrieved18 February2022.
- ^Grubb, Thomas C. (1998).Tufted Titmouse.Stackpole Books.ISBN9780811729673.
- ^"Tufted Titmouse"(PDF).Ohio Birds.Retrieved4 May2018.
- ^ab"Tufted Titmouse".Audubon.13 November 2014.Retrieved5 March2022.
- ^Montgomery, Sy."Titmouse".Encyclopædia Britannica.Retrieved13 October2019.
- ^"Tufted Titmouse - Diet".National Audubon Society.13 November 2014.Retrieved13 October2019.
- ^Parnell, Marc(2022).Birds of Connecticut (The Birding Pro's Field Guides).Cleveland, Ohio: Naturalist & Traveler Press. pp. 214–215.ISBN978-1-954228-27-6.
- ^Laskey, Amelia."Some Tufted Titmouse Life History"(PDF).Retrieved4 May2018.
- ^"Tufted Titmouse, Audubon Field Guide".13 November 2014.Retrieved17 August2015.
- ^Pollock, Henry S.; MacDonald, Sean E.; Vizentin-Bugoni, Jeferson; Brawn, Jeffrey D.; Sutton, Zachary S.; Hauber, Mark E. (2021)."What the pluck? Theft of mammal hair by birds is an overlooked but common behavior with fitness implications".Ecology.102(12): e03501.Bibcode:2021Ecol..102E3501P.doi:10.1002/ecy.3501.PMID34314035.S2CID236453003– via Wiley Online Library.
- ^Medlin, Elizabeth C.; Risch, Thomas S. (2006)."An Experimental Test Of Snake Skin Use To Deter Nest Predation".The Condor.108(4): 963.doi:10.1650/0010-5422(2006)108[963:aetoss]2.0.co;2.ISSN0010-5422.S2CID86039366.
- "The use of sloughed black rat snake Elaphe obsolete skins deters predation of artificial nests in nest boxes in forest near Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas, USA".Conservation Evidence.Archived fromthe originalon 3 January 2009.
- ^"Common Nesting birds - Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)".Nest Watch.Retrieved13 October2019.
- ^Elder, William H. (1985)."Survivorship in the Tufted Titmouse"(PDF).Wilson Bull.97:517–524 – via ProQuest.
- ^Laskey, Amelia R. (July 1957)."Some Tufted Titmouse Life History"(PDF).Bird-Banding.28(3): 135–145.doi:10.2307/4510633.JSTOR4510633– via ProQuest.
- ^Pravosudova, Elena V.; Grubb, Thomas C.; Parker, Patricia G.; Doherty, Paul F. (1999). "Patch Size and Composition of Social Groups in Wintering Tufted Titmice".The Auk.116(4): 1152–1155.doi:10.2307/4089699.JSTOR4089699.
- ^"All About Birds - Tufted Titmouse".Cornell Lab of Ornithology.Retrieved13 October2019.
- ^"Tufted & Black-crest. Titmou Baeolophus bicolor/atricrista".Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. U.S. Geological Survey.Retrieved2 January2019.
External links
edit
- "Tufted titmouse media".Internet Bird Collection.
- Tufted titmouse species account– Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Tufted titmouse –Baeolophus bicolor– USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Tufted titmouse photo galleryat VIREO (Drexel University)