North American Titmice (Overview)

Titmice are charming and energetic songbirds that belong to the family Paridae. These small, crested birds are known for their inquisitive nature, distinctive calls, and presence at backyard bird feeders. Found primarily in woodlands and suburban areas, titmice can be quite entertaining to watch and feed. This article provides an overview of the various titmice species native to North America, exploring their habitats, behaviors, and unique characteristics. We will also look at some fun and interesting facts about them, and give you tips for how you can attract timice to your yard. 

Titmouse Characteristics 

There are five titmouse species found in North America. We’ll take a look at each one below, but first let’s talk about some common characteristics that all titmice share. 

• Crested Heads: All titmice have a distinctive crest on their heads, giving them a unique and recognizable silhouette. They can raise or lower these crests to give their head a round or pointed look, and use this to communicate with other birds. A raised crest may signal dominance, while a lowered crest means submission. 
• Small Size: Titmice are small songbirds, typically measuring around 5-6 inches in length.
• Grayish Plumage: They generally have gray or grayish-brown plumage, often with white or pale underparts. Their round, black eyes stand out on their pale face.
• Acrobatic Feeding: Titmice are agile and acrobatic feeders, often hanging upside down to forage for insects and seeds. At the feeder they will often grab a seed, hold it between their feet and hammer the shell open with their beak.
• Mixed Diet: Their diet includes insects, seeds and nuts, making them frequent visitors to bird feeders. They can also shift their diet with what is most available in each season. 
• Distinctive Calls: Rather than a complex melody, the song of most titmice is a repeated series of clear whistles. They also have many calls that can sound nasal, scratchy and scolding. Titmice are known for their sharp distress calls when they spot danger, warning other titmice (any any other birds listening) of predators. 
• Cavity Nesters: Titmice typically nest in tree cavities, natural hollows and old woodpecker holes. They will sometimes use birdhouses.
• Social Behavior: After sticking within their pair during the breeding season, titmice will join small flocks of mixed-species during the winter months. These flocks often include chickadees and nuthatches, and they work together to forage for food.
• Bold and Curious Nature: Titmice are known for their boldness and curiosity, often approaching humans and exploring new objects in their environment. 
• Year-Round Residents: Most titmice species are non-migratory and remain in their territories throughout the year. Those in northern climates are hearty and able to stick out the cold winters. 

Titmouse Species

Let’s take a quick look at each of the North American titmice species! We’ll start with the most common, a widespread visitor to backyards all over the eastern United States. 

1. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

The Tufted Titmouse is commonly found in the eastern United States, from the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast. These birds prefer deciduous and mixed woodlands but are also frequent visitors to suburban backyards, especially those with bird feeders. Their diet consists of insects, seeds and nuts. They are known for their boldness, often taking food from feeders even when humans are close by. Always on the lookout for the best nut, researchers have noted that the Tufted Titmouse always chooses the largest seeds they can find while foraging.  

Tufted Titmice have bluish-gray upperparts, white underparts, and a patch of black just above their beak. There is a splash of peach along their sides, which can be quite bright or rather pale. They are vocal birds with their main song often described as sounding like “peter-peter-peter.” These titmice are cavity nesters, utilizing natural tree cavities or nest boxes to build their cup-shaped nests lined with animal hair. They are sometimes spotted plucking stray hairs right off an animal! Brush your pets outside and a titmouse just might snag some of that hair for their nest.  

2. Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus)

The Black-crested Titmouse is found primarily in central and southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. They inhabit oak woodlands, mesquite brushlands, and suburban areas. Their diet includes beetles, moths, flies, insect larvae, acorns, seeds and berries. This species is closely related to the Tufted Titmouse and was once considered the same species.

Distinguishable by the black stripe that runs up their head crest and lighter gray body, Black-crested Titmice are active and inquisitive birds. Buffy-peach coloring can be found on their sides as well as between the eyes. They have a variety of calls, similar to their Tufted relatives. They nest in cavities and readily use nest boxes provided in suitable habitats. Favorite nesting trees include elm, hackberry, oak and cedar. Pairs begin to form in late winter and early spring, and during courtship males may feed females as through they were nestlings. 

3. Bridled Titmouse (Baeolophus wollweberi)

The Bridled Titmouse is native to the mountainous regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico, including Arizona and New Mexico. They prefer oak and pine-oak woodlands and are often found at higher elevations. The Arizona white oak, Chihuahua pine and Emory oak are important tree species in their preferred habitat. Their diet consists mainly of insects and spiders which they pluck from leaves, twigs and dead vegetation.

This species is easily identified by its distinctive facial markings. Their white head has a black bib, black line through the eye and black accents on their crest. The rest of their plumage is a subdued gray all over with olive undertones. The Bridled Titmouse is known for its acrobatic feeding behavior, often hanging upside down to access food. Like other titmice they often join foraging flocks. For the Bridled Titmouse this can include kinglets, vireos, tanagers, chickadees and warblers.

4. Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi)

The Juniper Titmouse is found in the arid juniper and pinyon-juniper woodlands of the interior western United States, including parts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. They tend to seek out older juniper and pinyon pine woodlands for nesting, and like a shrubby understory. Juniper Titmice have a much more subdued appearance, appearing uniformly gray all over from crest to tail. 

Their diet primarily consists of insects, spiders, and pinyon pine seeds. Bird feeders with sunflower seed, nut pieces and suet can attract them.  They are well adapted to dry environments and are often seen foraging in shrubs and low trees.

They are non-migratory and maintain their territories year-round. Pairs that form during their first year tend to stay together for life. Their nests can be preyed upon by scrub jays and snakes, so these intruders are scolded harshly when spotted with a constant raspy call and raising of the head crest.

5. Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus)

Oak Titmice are plain gray-brown birds with a small crest, similar in appearance to the Juniper Titmouse but found in different habitats. The Oak Titmouse is primarily found in the oak woodlands of California and some of southern Oregon. Males sing several songs, all including sharp notes in repeated sequences, including a similar “peter-peter-peter” to the tufted titmouse. 

Their diet includes a mix of insects and seeds, including pine seeds, acorns,  insects, spiders, seeds, and acorns. These birds are particularly associated with oak habitats but can also be found in mixed woodlands and suburban areas with ample tree cover.

Female take charge of choosing the nest cavity, and if the wood is soft enough she may excavate some of it herself. Good nest cavities may be used again in later years either by the same pair or a different pair of titmice. If suitable trees aren’t available Oak Titmice may choose stumps, fenceposts, eaves or even cavities in riverbanks. 

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Interesting Facts About Titmice

• Titmice are one of a few perching birds that can hold large seeds between their feet to keep them steady while pecking at them to break open a shell or break off smaller pieces.
• As you’ll notice from their scientific name, titmice belong to the genus Baeolophus, which comes from the greek words for “small” and “crest”.
• Titmice are only found in North America, although their similar looking tit cousins can be found in other countries.
• During the winter, titmice often forage together in groups with other small birds like chickadees. 
• The Black-crested Titmouse and Tufted Titmouse diverged about 250,000 years ago, and where their ranges overlap they still form hybrids today. Hybrids often have a gray crest and brownish or gray forehead. 
• The Bridled Titmouse has a behavior distinct from other North American titmice, where a third adult titmouse joins a mated pair to help take care of the young during nesting season. 
• Titmice don’t migrate and instead stick out harsh winters on their breeding grounds. One of the ways they ensure they have enough food through the cold season is by spending the warmer months storing seeds for later. Seeds are cached in tree cracks or other crevices. 
• When the female Juniper Titmouse is incubating eggs, she like leaving the nest. If disturbed while on the nest she will often make a hissing sound and refuse to move.
• Juniper Titmice and Oak Titmice were previously considered one species called the Plain Titmouse. But researchers discovered they are genetically different and split the species, using their preferred habitats to give them their new names.  
• Tufted Titmice have been known to eat snow if drinking water is not available. 
• Tufted Titmice don’t travel very far when caching their winter stores of seeds. If they grab a seed from your feeder, they typically will hide it within 130 feet of the feeder.
• Sometimes Tufted Titmice get a free babysitter. While not common, sometimes a young titmouse will remain with its parents into the next breeding season and help them raise their siblings. 

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How To Attract Titmice

Here are some effective ways to attract titmice to your backyard:

1. Provide Birdhouses

Install birdhouses or nest boxes designed for small cavity-nesting birds like titmice. Ensure the entrance hole is the right size (around 1.25 inches in diameter) and place the boxes in a safe, quiet location. Add a predator guard and have it ready to go in early spring.

2. Offer Food

Set up bird feeders with foods that titmice love, such as sunflower seeds and peanut pieces. As insect eaters they can also be attracted with protein from mealworms and suet cakes or nuggets. Titmice are “clinging birds” and will do well at hopper feeders, tube feeders with perches, or any feeder with a mesh/grid surface they can cling to.

3. Plant Native Trees and Shrubs:

Include native plants that provide natural food sources like insects, nuts and berries. Native plants support native insects that titmice rely on. If possible maintain a natural habitat with a mix of trees, shrubs, and ground cover to provide shelter and foraging opportunities. 

4. Provide Water

A birdbath or shallow water feature can attract titmice, especially during hot weather. Make sure to keep the water clean and fresh. As small birds they will be wary if the water is too deep, so make sure there is a shallow section for them and add a fountain or dripper to catch their attention. Since they don’t migrate, they need a source of water in the winter too, and a heated bath can really help them out. 

5. Leave Dead Trees and Branches

Dead trees and branches offer natural nesting cavities and are a source of insects for food. If safe, leave some standing deadwood in your yard. As a bonus you’ll attract other cavity nesters like woodpeckers and nuthatches.

6. Minimize Pesticide Use

Since titmice include a lot of  insects in their diet, reducing or eliminating pesticide use in your yard and garden will help ensure a plentiful food supply for them.

7. Offer Nesting Materials

Provide natural nesting materials such as twigs, moss, and leaves. An easy way to do this is have small piles of your clippings from trimming the garden rather than throwing them away. You can also hang small baskets with pet fur near potential nesting sites, as many titmice like to line their nests with animal hair.