Breeding Location:
Forest edge, Grassland with scattered trees, Forest
Breeding Type:
Monogamous, Solitary nester
Breeding Population:
Egg Color:
White with brown spots
Number of Eggs:
4 - 8
Incubation Days:
13 - 14
Egg Incubator:
Female
Nest Material:
Lined with bark, leaves, soft grass and moss, snakeskin, and bits of animal fur and hair.
Migration:
Nonmigratory
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Overview
Black-crested Titmouse: Large titmouse with gray upperparts, pale gray underparts, and rust-brown flanks. The head has black cap and crest, pale gray face, and pale eye-ring. Wings and tail are gray. Gray legs and feet. Was once considered a subspecies of the Tufted Titmouse. AKA Mexican Titmouse.
Range and Habitat
Black-crested Titmouse: Native to southern Texas, Oklahoma and east-central Mexico. Common wherever trees grow, deciduous, heavy timber or urban shade trees. Perfers to nest in cavities in trees, telephone poles, fence posts and bird boxes.
Breeding and Nesting
Black-crested Titmouse: Four to eight brown spotted, white eggs are laid in a natural cavity, bird box, or woodpecker hole lined with bark, leaves, soft grass, moss, snakeskin, and bits of animal fur. Incubation ranges from 13 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.
Foraging and Feeding
Black-crested Titmouse: Eats insects, spiders, snails, various berries, acorns, and seeds. Forages in trees, sometimes upside down; often in mixed species flocks
Readily Eats
Suet, Sunflower Seed
Vocalization
Black-crested Titmouse: Song is a bold, high-pitched, whistled "peter, peter; peter" or "peto,peto,peto." Call varies from high-pitched, thin squeaky notes to low, harsh, fussy scolding notes.
Similar Species
Black-crested Titmouse: Tufted Titmouse, Juniper Titmouse, and Oak Titmouse lack black crest. Bridled Titmouse has black mask and throat.
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