A familiar songbird at bird feeders across the eastern U.S., the Tufted Titmouse is easily identified in most of its range by its sparrow-sized (6 inches) light grey body, chestnut flanks, and striking gray crest. In central Texas, this species is replaced by (and overlaps with) the Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus), which has a dark crest and darker body. Males and females are similar at all seasons. The Tufted Titmouse is a common resident in the eastern United States, absent only from northernmost New England and Maine, northern Michigan and Wisconsin, and southernmost Florida. Historically this species had a more southern distribution; in the last century, increased numbers of bird feeders have helped the Tufted Titmouse expand its range northward. This species is a permanent resident across its range. Tufted Titmice are generally found in deciduous woodland habitats. More recently, they have also adapted to life in suburban and light urban settings, especially in areas with high concentrations of bird feeders. The Tufted Titmouse’s diet consists primarily of seeds, but Titmice will also take insects when available. Titmice are most easily observed while visiting bird feeders; in fact, many yards in this species’ range are visited by Titmice every day. In wilder areas, this species may be looked for in the forest canopy, often associating with Chickadees. This species is primarily active during the day.

Threat Status: Least concern

Tufted titmice are only native to the Nearctic region. They are common east of the Great Plains in the woodlands of the southeastern, eastern, and midwestern United States, and in southern Ontario. Tufted titmice were once known only from the Ohio and Mississippi river drainages. Since the 1940's they have expanded throughout the eastern seaboard and now continue to expand their range northwards into Canada.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

Tufted titmice are only native to the Nearctic region. They are common east of the Great Plains in the woodlands of the southeastern, eastern, and midwestern United States, and in southern Ontario. Tufted titmice were once known only from the Ohio and Mississippi river drainages. Since the 1940's they have expanded throughout the eastern seaboard and now continue to expand their range northwards into Canada.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)) Resident from northeastern Nebraska east across southern Great Lakes region to southern New England, south to eastern Texas, Gulf Coast, and southern Florida; and west to central Kansas and west-central Oklahoma (AOU 1998, Banks et al. 2002).

Tufted titmice are 15 to 17 cm long and have wingspans of 23 to 28 cm. Both males and females have white undersides, gray backs, rusty-brown sides, pointed crests on their heads, and large dark eyes.

Range length: 15 to 17 cm.

Range wingspan: 23 to 28 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Average mass: 21 g.

Tufted titmice are 15 to 17 cm long and have wingspans of 23 to 28 cm. Both males and females have white undersides, gray backs, rusty-brown sides, pointed crests on their heads, and large dark eyes.

Range length: 15 to 17 cm.

Range wingspan: 23 to 28 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Average mass: 21 g.

Length: 17 cm

Weight: 22 grams

Tufted titmice prefer deciduous woodlands, especially moist woodlands found in swamps and river basins. They are also common in wooded residential areas and city parks.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

Other Habitat Features: suburban ; riparian

• Terrestrial

Tufted titmice prefer deciduous woodlands, especially moist woodlands found in swamps and river basins. They are also common in wooded residential areas and city parks.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

Other Habitat Features: suburban ; riparian

Comments: Forest, woodland, scrub, and partly open situations with scattered trees, from deciduous and mixed woodland in the northeast to oak-juniper scrub, mesquite, and riparian woodland in the southwest; also wooded parks and residential areas (AOU 1998). Nests in natural cavity in tree, or in old woodpecker hole, or in artificial cavity such as pipe, bird box, 1-27 m above ground (Harrison 1978).

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Tufted titmice eat a wide variety of insect and invertebrate prey, including Lepidoptera, Diptera, Insecta eggs, Gastropoda, and Araneae. They also eat berries and seeds. They hold seeds under their feet on branches and crack them with their sharp bills. Tufted titmice are common at bird feeders where they eat seeds, especially sunflower seeds, suet, and other offerings.

Animal Foods: eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; mollusks

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Tufted titmice eat a wide variety of insect and invertebrate prey, including caterpillars, moths, flies, insect eggs, snails, and spiders. They also eat berries and seeds. They hold seeds under their feet on branches and crack them with their sharp bills. Tufted titmice are common at bird feeders where they eat seeds, especially sunflower seeds, suet, and other offerings.

Animal Foods: eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; mollusks

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Primary Diet: omnivore

Comments: Eats insects, spiders, small fruits, and seeds (Terres 1980); the latter two items eaten most abundantly in colder months.

Tufted titmice nestlings are preyed upon by a number of animals. They also control insect populations and distribute nuts by carring them away to eat them.

Tufted titmice nestlings are preyed upon by nest predators such as Squamata, Procyon lotor, Mephitis mephitis, Didelphis virginiana, and Sciuridae. Adults are preyed upon by Felis silvestris and predatory birds such as Accipitridae and Strigiformes. In the eastern United States the most common birds of prey that hunt tufted titmice are Accipiter striatus and Accipiter cooperi. Tufted titmice give off high-pitched alarm calls when hawks are seen flying overhead.

Known Predators:

• Cooper's hawks (Accipiter_cooperii)
• sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter_striatus)
• owls (Strigiformes)
• racoons (Procyon_lotor)
• snakes (Squamata)
• skunks (Mephitis_mephitis)
• Virginia opossums (Didelphis_virginiana)
• squirrels (Sciuridae)
• domestic cats (Felis_silvestris)

Tufted titmice nestlings are preyed upon by a number of animals. They also control insect populations and distribute nuts by carring them away to eat them.

Tufted titmice nestlings are preyed upon by nest predators such as snakes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and squirrels. Adults are preyed upon by cats and predatory birds such as hawks and owls. In the eastern United States the most common birds of prey that hunt tufted titmice are sharp-shinned hawks and Cooper's hawks. Tufted titmice give off high-pitched alarm calls when hawks are seen flying overhead.

Known Predators:

• Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii)
• sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus)
• owls (Strigiformes)
• racoons (Procyon lotor)
• snakes (Squamata)
• skunks (Mephitis mephitis)
• Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana)
• squirrels (Sciuridae)
• domestic cats (Felis silvestris)

Titmice calls sound like: "peto, peto, peto" or "peter, peter, peter", and "day-day-day". One can call them to you by imitating this call. There are 10 different known calls of tufted titmice. The calls are generally divided into 2 groups. One group is made up of calls that have a very low frequency and the others have a very high frequency. The three calls in the group of high-frequency calls are usually associated with agressive behavior. Tufted titmice also communicate among themselves using body posture and movements.

Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic

Titmice calls sound like: "peto, peto, peto" or "peter, peter, peter", and "day-day-day". One can call them to you by imitating this call. There are 10 different known calls of tufted titmice. The calls are generally divided into 2 groups. One group is made up of calls that have a very low frequency and the others have a very high frequency. The three calls in the group of high-frequency calls are usually associated with agressive behavior. Tufted titmice also communicate among themselves using body posture and movements.

Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic

The average lifespan of tufted titmice is 2.1 years. This number is relatively low because most tufted titmice die as nestlings. Once they reach adulthood, tufted titmice are likely to live for more than 2 years. The longest these birds have been know to live in the wild is 13 years.

Range lifespan

Status: wild: 13 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 2.1 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 159 months.

The average lifespan of tufted titmice is 2.1 years. This number is relatively low because most tufted titmice die as nestlings. Once they reach adulthood, tufted titmice are likely to live for more than 2 years. The longest these birds have been know to live in the wild is 13 years.

Range lifespan

Status: wild: 13 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 2.1 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 159 months.

Breeding takes place between March and May. Five to eight brown-speckled, white eggs are layed in nests 3 to 90 feet above the ground. Nests are formed in natural tree cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes, bird boxes, hollow metal pipes, or fence posts. Nests are lined with soft materials such as wool, moss, cotton, leaves, bark, fur, or grass. Tufted Titmice have been known to pluck hairs from live woodchucks, squirrels, opossums, and humans near nest sites. Eggs are incubated by the female for 13 to 17 days, when the nestlings leave the nest cavity.  Tufted titmice are able to breed in the year following their hatching.

Breeding interval: Tufted titmice breed during the warm months of the year, they may have one or two broods each season. The young of the first brood may help care for nestlings of the second brood.

Breeding season: Tufted titmice breed from March to May.

Range eggs per season: 5 to 8.

Range time to hatching: 17 (high) days.

Range fledging age: 17 to 18 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Average eggs per season: 6.

Both parents feed the young nestlings. In the first 4 days after the young hatch, males feed them much more often than do females. After a while both parents share the job until the young are ready to leave the nest. It is not uncommon for the pair to have nest helpers. These may be their own young or other birds. They assist in feeding the nestlings.

Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)

Breeding takes place between March and May. Five to eight brown-speckled white eggs are layed in nests 3-90 feet up. Nests are formed in natural tree cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes, bird boxes, hollow metal pipes, and fence posts and are then filled with wool, moss, cotton, leaves, bark, hair, etc. They even pluck hairs from live woodchucks, squirrels, opossums, and humans near nest sites. Eggs are incubated by the female for 13-17 days, and the young climb down from the cavities when 17-18 days old. Both parents feed the young. There are sometimes two broods a season and the young of the first brood often help care for the second. Tufted titmice are able to breed in the year following their hatching.

Breeding interval: Tufted titmice breed during the warm months of the year, they may have one or two broods each season. The young of the first brood may help care for nestlings of the second brood.

Breeding season: Tufted titmice breed from March to May.

Range eggs per season: 5 to 8.

Range time to hatching: 17 (high) days.

Range fledging age: 17 to 18 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Average eggs per season: 6.

Both parents feed the young nestlings. In the first 4 days after the young hatch, males feed them much more often than do females. After a while both parents share the job until the young are ready to leave the nest. It is not uncommon for the pair to have nest helpers. These may be their own young or other birds. They assist in feeding the nestlings.

Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)

Clutch size is 5-8 (commonly 5-6). Sometimes 2 broods per year. Incubation, by female, lasts 12-14 days. Young are tended by both parents (and sometimes young of first brood), leave nest at 15-18 days.

Tufted titmice ar fairly common throughout the eastern United States.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

US Migratory Bird Act: protected

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

Tufted titmice ar fairly common throughout the eastern United States.

US Migratory Bird Act: protected

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N3 - Vulnerable

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Restoration Potential: See Mitchell (1988) for specifications for the construction and placement of nest boxes.

There are no negative impacts of tufted titmice on humans.

Tufted titmice help to control the population of certain insects as well as helping trees by distributing their seeds.

Positive Impacts: controls pest population

There are no negative impacts of tufted titmice on humans.

Tufted titmice help to control the population of certain insects as well as helping trees by distributing their seeds.

Positive Impacts: controls pest population

Comments: Formerly in genus Parus; transferred to Baeolophus by AOU (1997). Formerly considered conspecific with B. ATRICRISTATUS (Black-crested Titmouse; AOU 1998), but recognized as a separate species by Banks et al. (2002). These two taxa hybridize freely in a stable, narrow zone through east-central Texas (Dixon 1955, 1989, 1990), but they are distinct genetically (Braun et al. 1984, Avise and Zink 1988, Sheldon et al. 1992) and vocally (Dixon 1955, Coldren 1992). Sibley and Monroe (1990) treated Bicolor and ATRICRISTATUS as separate species. Gill and Slikas (1992) characterized Bicolor and ATRICRISTATUS as hybridizing semispecies. See Sheldon et al. (1992) for DNA-DNA hybridization evidence of phylogenetic relationships among major lineages of Parus.