sennett's titmouse 411 



larvae and their eggs; scales and spiders are probably eaten to some 

 extent, as well as berries, wild fruits, and some soft-shelled nuts and 

 acorns. H. P. Attwater (1892) says that "the favorite food of the 

 Black-crested Titmouse during winter is the pecan nut; they hold them 

 on the horizontal limbs, or place them in the cracks of the bark, and 

 break them open by knocking with their bills, like Woodpeckers." 



Behavior. — The behavior of both races of the black-crested titmouse 

 is so much like that of the more familiar tufted titmouse that one would 

 hardly recognize the difference between the two species at a little dis- 

 tance. They are both friendly, confiding, cheery, busy, active, and noisy 

 little birds that attract our attention and our interest. Their elevated 

 crests give them a jaunty appearance that is very pleasing. During the 

 breeding season they are usually seen in pairs ; after the young are on 

 the wing, rather early in the season, they may be seen traveling about 

 in family parties, and in the winter in loose companies, when they are 

 often seen about human habitations and in towns. Mr. Simmons (1925) 

 says that they become attached to one locality; "one pair nested for six 

 consecutive years in a hollow of an old persimmon tree." 



Illustrating the confiding nature of this bird, Henry Nehrling (1893) 

 relates the follov/ing experience that came to him while he was watching 

 a white-eyed vireo's nest: 



While I stood there in perfect silence, with my gaze steadfastly fixed on the 

 pretty h'chen decorated domicile, a Black-crested Titmouse came very close to 

 me. It first perched on a small bush, then it flew to the ground, and finally, 

 growing very bold, clung fast to my trousers. When I moved, it flew back to 

 the bush, contemplating me curiously, but finally, convinced of my good will, 

 it returned and clambered up and down my back, pecking me, and again vigor- 

 ously thrusting its bill into my clothes. It was obviously looking for insects, 

 especially wood-ticks which in such places creep over ones clothes in great 

 numbers. Whenever I made a noticeable movement, it fled a little distance, but 

 invariably returned. Finally when I went and seated myself on a prostrate tree, 

 it followed me again. It became so bold, that it not only climbed up and down 

 my back, but fearlessly crept over to my shoulders and arms, and even onto the 

 hat. This Titmouse stayed near me as long as I remained in that part of the 

 woods, and pursued me a short distance, screaming loudly IVait-zuait-wait-tvait, 

 while I continued my way through the forest. Never before have I seen such 

 boldness and confidence exhibited by a wild bird. 



Voice. — Mr. Simmons (1925) says that the song is "quite similar to 

 that of the Eastern Tufted Titmouse," consisting of "a. cheery, abbre- 

 viated Pet^, Pete, Pete, Pete; a series of monotonous whistles, hciv, hew, 

 hew, hezv, hezv, hew, hetv, heiv; a whistled tseee ep; a rasping, scolding 

 eck-eck." 



Enemies. — Mr. Simmons (1925) lists this bird as a local victim of 

 the cowbird. 



