Library #15 · A Backyard · Wave 2

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor · Paridae

A crested gray songbird that sings a clear peter-peter-peter.

At a glance

Size: 5.5–6.3 in
Wingspan: 7.9–10.2 in
Habitat: Deciduous woods, parks, feeders
Diet: Insects, seeds, nuts

Range: Eastern and central U.S.; expanding north

Nesting: Cavity nest lined with soft materials — sometimes hair.

Coloring pose idea: Crested bird at wooden birdhouse

Hear this bird

General call / song: Peter-peter-peter song; scratchy scolding notes.

Mating / display: Repetitive peter song from males; quiet contact calls between pair.

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Play calls on All About Birds Species overview Audubon field guide

How to know it

Gray above, whitish below, peachy flanks, pointed crest.
Black forehead patch; large dark eye.
Often with chickadees at feeders.

Behavior

Caches seeds like chickadees.
Uses nest boxes and natural cavities.
Curious and fairly bold around people.

Fun facts

Known to pluck hair from living animals for nest lining.
Range has pushed northward with milder winters and feeders.
Closely related to chickadees.

Companion page for the Birds Coloring Calendar series by R. J. D. B. Fact summaries are original educational text or short paraphrases with source links. Call playback via link to All About Birds / Cornell Lab. Re-test QR codes on a phone before final print. Not affiliated with Cornell Lab or Audubon.