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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
Species: bicolor
La. passer sparrow, small bird
La. forma form, kind, species
La. parum too little
La. parus titmouse, tomtit
Gr. baios short, small;
Gr. lophos crest
La. bi twice
Six inches long. Black forehead extending up to a conspicuous
crest. Ashen-gray upper parts. Gray wings and tail. Dull white sides of head and under
parts. |
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| A year around resident in forests and
groves throughout most of the eastern U.S. from the Gulf States up to Michigan, the Great
Lakes region and over to Main.
Builds nests of leaves, moss, feathers, fibrous bark strips and
cattle hair usually in natural or abandoned cavities in stumps and trees. They like bird
houses. |
| Lays five to eight white speckled eggs Forages
for insects, nuts, berries, and seeds.
Not a shy bird; it may be approached with ease. Similar inquisitive and acrobatic
habits to those of the Chickadees.
According to Neltje Blanchan, the titmouse's two
noisy, tiresome notes sung for hours drove the musician Schumann nuts |
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| The Tufted Titmouse Tufted Titmouse Birdhouse (same as for
Plain
Titmouse, Nuthatches, Downy Woodpecker and Chickadees) has a 4" by 4" floor,
9" inside ceiling, 1 1/4" diameter entrance hole located 7" above the floor
and ventilation openings. Assembled with brass compound coated screws fit to pre-drilled
countersunk pilot holes. Hinged roof is secured with a brass hook for easy access. Mount
nest box on a tree trunk from chest level to just out of reach, higher only if necessary.
Remove the nest after the brood rearing seasons are over. Resources |
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