Tufted titmouse

Tufted titmouse
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain	Eukaryota
Kingdom	Animalia
Subkingdom	Bilateria
Branch	Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum	Chordata
Sub-phylum	Vertebrata
Infraphylum	Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass	Tetrapoda
Class	Aves
Sub-class	Neornithes
Infra-class	Neoaves
Order Information
Superorder	Passerimorphae
Order	Passeriformes
Sub-order	Passeri
Infraorder	Passerida
Family Information
Superfamily	Passeroidea
Family	Paridae
Genus Information
Genus	Baeolophus
Species Information
Species	B. bicolor
Population statistics
Population	Unknown (2016 est.)
Conservation status	Least concern

The tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) is a small species of passerine bird of the family Paridae, and found in the eastern United States and Canada.

Description

The tufted titmouse is 5.5 to 6.3 in inches long, with a wingspan of 7.9 to 10.2 inches, and weighs about 0.6 to 0.9 ounces; one third of the length is made up by the tail. The plumage is slate-gray above with wings a slightly-darker shade of gray. The underside is a whitish-cream, with light rust along the sides immediately below the wings. The dark eyes are ringed in white. It has a short, erectile crest upon its head, and bears a black mark on the forehead. The beak is short, strong and blackish horn-colored. Legs and feet are slate gray.

The call is described as a short heewee heewee, or quick, harsh heepheepheep; the calls can vary both in tone and structure.

It is a non-migrating resident bird, found in pairs during the breeding season and summer, while in winter it will form or be part of small, mixed flocks. It has been known to hybridize with the black-crested titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus), a bird that was at one time considered a subspecies.

Range and habitat

The tufted titmouse is found in the United States and southwestern Ontario east of the Great Plains, from New England, Michigan and Minnesota south to the Gulf Coast and southern Florida (excluding the Everglades region). It is found in deciduous or mixed deciduous/coniferous forests, and at or near human habitation with good tree and shrub cover; it is a regular visitor at bird feeders.

Diet

Prey items consists of insects, especially caterpillars, but it will also seeds (especially sunflower seeds), berries and nuts either on branches or on the ground.

Reproduction

The tufted titmouse is monogamous, and stay together all year. The nest is built from moss, dried up grass, dry leaves and animal hair by the female in existing tree cavities to a height of around forty feet. Five to eight eggs are laid between February and June, one egg per day, and with the possibility of two clutches during the season. The females then incubate for 12 to 14 days, with both parents feeding the chicks, who are fledged after 15 to 16 days.