I buy chunks of raw suet at the grocery store to put out in winter to offer the birds some extra protein. The Tufted Titmice are particularly fond of this delicacy.
The leaves are changing color on our serviceberry trees which are favorite approach perches for the Tufted Titmouse family. We have 2 adults and 2 juveniles visiting regularly.
For the past week, I have been awakened in the morning to the sound of juvenile Titmice begging to be fed and the return calls of their parents as they keep track of each other. The two juveniles keep their crests tucked while the parents crests are usually up high.
The Tufted Titmice are not picky about their diet. They go for suet, shelled peanuts, black-oiled sunflower seeds and safflower seeds, so they never have to wait in line. This guy was headed for the peanut feeder.
The Tufted Titmouse family was in for a visit early yesterday evening - 2 adults and 2 juveniles. This juvenile was waiting for his turn at the sunflower seed feeder. He is still working on completing his feathers, particularly his little crest.
The Tufted Titmice always disappear in the spring as they head to the woods for nesting season. They usually return to our yard in early August with their youngsters. This is one of the adults moving around among the trees. Youngsters were following close behind.
The Blue Jays can fit only one un-shelled peanut in their beak, so I was really surprised to see this little Tufted Titmouse fly off with one in its beak. I expect it kept her busy for quite awhile.
While watching for Bald Eagles yesterday, this Tufted Titmouse was visiting a feeder tacked to a tree by a local ranger. After retrieving a sunflower seed, he would perch on a tree branch right in front of me.
After getting a sunflower seed, this Tufted Titmouse headed for dense cover in one of our front yard mugo pine bushes. This time I was able to get an angle for a shot.
A pair of Tufted Titmice are enjoying the nut mix I put in several of the feeders. They grab a nut a quickly head for the cover of a bush to eat it. I managedthis shot during a split second pause.
A few days ago we had a family of 4 Tufted Titmice show up. They spent about 30 minutes grabbing a sunflower seed and then eating it in the cover of our big viburnum bush.
I tried out a new technique to get this tufted titmouse to pose for me. It was working within minutes. Watching the birds natural behavior and then taking advantage for photos keeps me endlessly entertained.
Titmouse Territory Call - Chickadee in Background.
Tufted Titmouse Crest Up High
Posted:
February 8, 2009
The titmouse activity at our feeders has picked up recently. We have a total of 4 that visit regularly. This guy was stretched tall keeping an eye on any motion around him.
While waiting for the pileated woodpecker to show up this morning, I was able to get a shot of this tufted titmouse in an adjacent tree. He would grab a sunflower seed from the feeder and fly up to a high tree branch to eat it.
Bird Species
