The Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) is a small songbird found in the south-central United States and northern Mexico. This species has a black crest, gray upperparts, and a pale belly. The Black-crested Titmouse prefers open woodlands and scrubby areas. Read on to learn more about the range and habitat of this titmouse species.
Range of the Black-crested Titmouse
The Black-crested Titmouse is found across the south-central United States and northern Mexico. Its range extends from southern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas south through northeastern Mexico. Here are some more details on the range limits of this species:
- In the United States, the northern limit is southeastern Kansas and south-central Oklahoma.
- The range extends south through central and eastern Texas into northeastern Mexico.
- In Mexico, Black-crested Titmice occur in the northeastern states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Sonora, and Durango.
- The southern range limit is northern Durango and southern Coahuila in Mexico.
- Black-crested Titmice are year-round residents throughout their breeding range.
So in summary, these birds breed in south-central U.S. states and northern Mexico, mostly between the latitudes of 25°N and 35°N. The range covers about 1,900,000 square kilometers or 730,000 square miles.
States Where Black-crested Titmouse Live
Within the United States, the Black-crested Titmouse is found in these states:
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
The Texas population represents the core of this species’ distribution in the U.S. Black-crested Titmice occur year-round across most of the eastern two-thirds of Texas.
In Oklahoma, these birds are found primarily in the southern half of the state. The range covers southeastern Oklahoma to just north of Oklahoma City.
The Kansas population is restricted to a small area in the far south-central part of the state, along the Oklahoma border.
So while broad areas of Texas are inhabited by Black-crested Tits, only peripheral parts of Oklahoma and Kansas host these birds.
Key Habitats
Across their range, Black-crested Titmice occupy open woodland and scrubby areas. Here are some of their typical breeding habitats:
- Oak-juniper woodlands
- Mesquite scrub
- Open ranchlands with oaks and other scattered trees
- Suburban parks and yards with trees
They nest in tree or shrub cavities, so habitats with sufficient natural cavities or human-provided nest boxes are important. Territory size ranges from around 3 to 10 acres per pair.
This species uses a variety of oak tree species across its range, including live oak, post oak, Texas oak, Emory oak, and others. It also inhabits areas with junipers, mesquite, hackberries, and various shrubs.
Elevational Range
Across their U.S. and Mexican range, these birds are found from near sea level up to around 6,500 feet in elevation. In Mexico, they have been recorded primarily at elevations below 1,600 meters (5,200 feet).
Some key details on the elevational range:
- In Texas, they are common in lowlands including coastal areas.
- They also inhabit mountain areas such as the Chisos Mountains where they occur up to 5,400 feet.
- In Mexico, they are mainly found at elevations below 5,000 feet.
- The highest elevation records are around 6,500 feet in Texas and Durango, Mexico.
So in most areas, Black-crested Titmice inhabit relatively low-elevation habitats. But they also range into mountain woodlands, primarily at the southern end of their distribution in Mexico and Texas.
Expansion of Range and Population
Since the early 1900s, the Black-crested Titmouse has expanded its range northward in the United States. Possible factors enabling this expansion include climate change and the availability of bird feeders within their range. Here are some details on the population expansion:
- In the early 1900s, the northern limit was central Texas and southern Oklahoma.
- The range steadily expanded northward through Oklahoma and reached south-central Kansas by the 1980s.
- The population is still expanding slowly northward in southern Kansas as habitat becomes available.
- Milder winters and supplementary food from bird feeders may aid these range expansions.
- Breeding Bird Survey data indicates populations grew by about 2.5% per year from 1966 to 2015.
So while subtropical and tropical areas of Mexico host these birds year-round, the northern fringe of the range is actively expanding thanks likely to warmer climates and artificial feeders.
Migratory Behavior
The Black-crested Titmouse is a non-migratory resident bird throughout its range. These birds remain on breeding territories year-round. Here are some details on their lack of migration:
- They are non-migratory in both their Mexican and U.S. ranges.
- No major seasonal movements have been noted anywhere across the distribution.
- They are able to withstand cold winters and very hot summers within their range.
- Pairs or family groups defend permanent territories year-round.
- Juveniles appear to disperse locally away from their parents’ territories.
The sedentary nature of Black-crested Titmouse makes range expansions a slow process. Without migratory behavior, they can only enlarge their range through local dispersal and population growth. Their ability to survive cold winters has facilitated northern expansion in Oklahoma and Kansas.
Conclusion
In summary, the Black-crested Titmouse is primarily found across Texas, northeastern Mexico, southern Oklahoma, and south-central Kansas. It inhabits open oak woodlands, scrublands, ranchlands, and similar semi-open habitats. Elevationally, it ranges from sea level up to about 6,500 feet. The northern extent of its breeding range has expanded gradually northward for more than a century due to factors like climate warming and bird feeders. Throughout their range, these titmice are non-migratory and defend territories year-round.
