365 Urban Species. Species #031: Tufted Titmouse

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To those of us who see them every day of the year, it seems unbelievable that the tufted titmouse wasn't a resident of New England until the mid-twentieth century. They are part of the winter birding landscape, among the most common birdfeeder visitors, gathering in mixed flocks with chickadees, nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers. The titmouse is one of many species of birds whose range has vastly expanded with the practice of winter birdfeeding as well as other human changes to their environment. They are bold, but not quite so bold as their relatives the chickadees.