Tufted titmice are small gray songbirds that can often be found in backyards and woodlands in eastern North America. With their prominent crest, black forehead, and perky attitude, these birds have endeared themselves to many people. But just how friendly are tufted titmice? Let’s take a closer look at the behavior and personality of these backyard birds.
Tufted Titmouse Basic Facts
Here are some quick facts about tufted titmice:
- Scientific name: Baeolophus bicolor
- Length: 6-7 inches
- Wingspan: 10-12 inches
- Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz
- Lifespan: 2-6 years
- Diet: insects, spiders, seeds, berries, nuts
- Song: A clear whistled “peter-peter-peter”
- Nest: In a tree cavity lined with soft material
- Eggs: 5-8 pale pink with brown spots
- Range: Eastern North America
- Habitat: woodlands, forests, parks, backyards
Are Tufted Titmice Social?
Tufted titmice are moderately social birds. They do not form large winter flocks like chickadees or nuthatches, but they will congregate in small groups in winter to forage for food. Families may stay together through the winter as well. Outside of the breeding season, you may see small groups of 3-12 birds moving through the trees together. They keep in contact with frequent soft calls while feeding.
Tufted Titmouse Interactions
Tufted titmice may join mixed flocks with chickadees, nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers in the winter. They don’t interact as strongly with these other species as chickadees and nuthatches do with each other, but they will forage alongside and benefit from the larger flock. Sometimes tufted titmice act aggressively towards other birds in these mixed flocks, chasing them away from food sources. They seem to have an intermediate social status in these flocks, below chickadees but above woodpeckers.
Tufted Titmouse Personality and Behavior
Tufted titmice are active, acrobatic little birds. They can be quite bold in approaching people and bird feeders in backyards. Here are some common behaviors that contribute to their endearing personality:
- Curiosity – Tufted titmice are very curious and will readily explore new things in their environment like bird feeders. They are often one of the first birds to find and try out a new feeder.
- Active foraging – These birds actively scout territories and flit through trees looking for food while constantly calling out with their nasal voice.
- Agility – They nimbly crawl all over branches and hang upside down frequently while foraging.
- Cuteness – The prominent tuft gives them a cute, endearing appearance. Their large dark eyes also give them an expressive look.
- Energetic – Their restless energy and boldness can make them seem feisty.
- Intelligence – They are able to solve problems like opening containers to reach food.
- Playfulness – Young titmice will hang upside down from branches or clamber over each other while playing.
Overall, tufted titmice display a lively mix of traits including energy, intelligence, curiosity, agility, boldness, and playfulness. These attributes likely contribute to their popularity among bird lovers.
Do Tufted Titmice Make Good Pets?
Tufted titmice are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and cannot be kept as pets. As wild birds, they are not suited for life in captivity. However, their willingness to come to feeders allows people to have close encounters with these birds in a natural setting and observe their endearing behaviors.
How to Attract Tufted Titmice
Here are some tips to attract tufted titmice to your backyard:
- Offer bird feeders with sunflower seeds, suet, and peanuts – Platform feeders or tube feeders work well.
- Provide a fresh source of water like a birdbath.
- Have trees and shrubs in your yard, titmice like to forage and nest in trees.
- Put nest boxes up if there are not enough natural cavities.
- Choose feeders with vertical perches, titmice like to perch upright while eating.
- Locate feeders near trees or shrubs for quick escapes.
With the right habitat and a good source of food, tufted titmice are likely to find your yard. Once they discover your feeders, they will return regularly.
Do Tufted Titmice Eat at Feeders?
Tufted titmice are frequent visitors to bird feeders, especially in winter. Some of their favorite foods offered at feeders include:
- Sunflower seeds – The small black oil sunflower seeds are preferred, in or out of the shell.
- Safflower seeds – A favorite choice that they husk efficiently.
- Peanuts – Shelled or unshelled peanuts are eagerly eaten.
- Suet – High energy suet provides fat and protein.
- Peanut butter – They will eat from peanut butter feeders.
- Nuts – They consume nuts including almonds, pecans, walnuts and hazelnuts.
In autumn and winter, bird feeders may provide over 50% of a tufted titmouse’s diet. They routinely visit platform feeders, hopper feeders, tube feeders, and suet feeders in backyards.
How Tufted Titmice Eat at Feeders
When foraging at feeders, tufted titmice:
- Prefer to perch upright
- Use their beaks to crack open seeds and nuts
- Hold seeds with their feet to remove shells
- Excavate suet and peanut butter with their beak
- Swallow small seeds whole
- Sometimes stuff cheeks full of seeds
- Forage actively, frequently returning for more
- Are quick to discover and try new feeders
- May be dominant over other birds at platform feeders
Best Feeders for Tufted Titmice
The best feeders for tufted titmice have the following features:
- Tube feeders with small perches
- Platform feeders with sunflower seeds
- Hopper or house feeders protected from rain
- Suet feeders, single or double
- Peanut feeders
- Niger seed feeders
- Nut feeders that hold various nuts
Having a variety of feeders with different foods will attract tufted titmice and keep them visiting your yard regularly.
Fun Facts About Tufted Titmice
Here are some interesting facts about the behavior and lifestyle of tufted titmice:
- A group of titmice is called a “dissimulation” of titmice.
- The black forehead of titmice may help them communicate with facial expressions.
- Tufted titmice mate for life. Pairs stay together year round.
- They use their crest to communicate. It may signal alarm or be used in courtship displays.
- Titmouse pairs share responsibility for incubating eggs and feeding nestlings.
- Young titmice stay with their parents for up to 2 months after fledging.
- Tufted titmice rub ants on their feathers. The ants secrete acids that repel lice and mites.
- They sometimes stuff food into cracks then retrieve and eat it later.
- Their whistle song has been likened to someone whistling for a pet.
- Tufted titmice live year-round over most of eastern North America.
Conclusion
In conclusion, tufted titmice are very personable birds that exhibit playful, energetic behaviors. Their acrobatic movements, curiosity, boldness at feeders, expressive crests, and whistling song make them endearing to birdwatchers. While they are not quite as social as other backyard birds, they will join mixed winter flocks and can become regular visitors to your feeders with the right habitat and food sources. Their lively antics and pleasant song are sure to brighten your day and put a smile on your face! If you want to attract an adorable and amusing songbird, be sure to invite the tufted titmouse into your yard.
