Black-crested Titmouse

The Black-crested Titmouse, also known as the Mexican Titmouse, is a small, charismatic bird with a distinctive appearance. It measures between 5.5 to 6.0 inches in length and is adorned with rusty flanks, a whitish belly, and gray upperparts. The male boasts a prominent, dark black crest that stands erect, while the female's crest is somewhat less pronounced and not as dark.

Identification Tips

To identify this bird, look for its long, dark black crest on the male, and a slightly lighter crest on the female. The combination of its rusty flanks, gray upperparts, and whitish belly, along with its size, can help distinguish it from other species.

Habitat

The Black-crested Titmouse is quite adaptable and can be found in a variety of arboreal habitats. It thrives in areas with deciduous trees, heavy timber forests, and even in urban settings where shade trees are present.

Distribution

This species is native to southern Texas, Oklahoma, and east-central Mexico. Occasionally, vagrants have been observed as far north and east as St. Louis, Missouri.

Behaviour

The Black-crested Titmouse is known for its agility and active foraging behavior. It is often seen flitting about in search of food or engaging in social interactions with other titmice.

Song & Calls

The call of the Black-crested Titmouse is a distinctive "peter, peter, peter," reminiscent of the Tufted Titmouse but shorter in duration.

Breeding

Come March or April, the Black-crested Titmouse engages in breeding activities. It nests in tree cavities, telephone poles, fence posts, and readily takes to bird boxes. The female lays a clutch of four to seven eggs, which are white with reddish-brown spots.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Black-crested Titmouse is varied, including berries, nuts, spiders, insects, and insect eggs. Its foraging habits are quite active as it searches for these food items among the trees.

Conservation status

The Black-crested Titmouse is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population levels.