404 BULLETIN 191, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



sounds like the whistle of a man caUing his dog. It can readily be seen 

 from a study of the above interpretations how easy is it for a novice to 

 confuse the voice of the titmouse with that of the Carohna wren, the 

 chickadee, or even the cardinal. All observers agree that the titmouse 

 is a loud and persistent singer for nearly all the year; it is a joy to hear 

 it tuning up in January, when so many other birds are silent. The song 

 increases in frequency and intensity when the nuptial season approaches 

 in February; early in spring its oft-repeated pcto note is given so con- 

 stantly that it may become monotonous and even tiresome. No wonder 

 that the bird is locally known as the "Peter bird." 



Field marks. — The tufted titmouse may be recognized as a small gray 

 bird, less than English sparrow size, with a prominent, blackish crest, 

 and chestnut-brown flanks. The colors are duller in the female than in 

 the male, but otherwise they are much alike. Mr. Skinner (1928) sug- 

 gests that "its big black eyes show a strong contrast to its trim gray 

 plumage. * * * When the crest lies back on the crown, its long feathers 

 stick out behind so that it is noticeable then as well as when erect." 



Enemies. — Titmice are doubtless subject to attack by the ordinary 

 enemies of all small birds, cats, hawks, owls, and snakes, but published 

 records are not plentiful. The enterprising cowbird finds and enters the 

 nesting cavity to deposit its unwelcome egg occasionally. Dr. Friedmann 

 (1929) records four cases, and probably others have occurred since, 

 but sometimes the entrance hole is too small for the parasite to enter. 



Harold S. Peters (1936) lists, as external parasites on the tufted 

 titmouse, two lice (Myrsidea incerta and Philoptenis sp.), a mite (Trom- 

 biciila irntans), and a tick (Hoemaphysalis leporis-palustris). 



Fall atid ivintcr. — Mabel Gillespie (1930), referring to the vicinity 

 of Glenolden, Pa., v^rites: "During the late spring, summer, and early 

 fall, Titmice tend to disappear. This disappearance indicates a period of 

 retirement during nesting and the subsequent annual molt. At this 

 season the birds are in the secluded depths of woods and are unaccus- 

 tomedly silent. In the fall they appear in small groups, which, as far as 

 they can be counted, vary from two to at least six. Presumably there is 

 more or less wandering at this time, but the tendency apparently is to 

 choose a favorable location in which to spend the winter, and then to 

 remain within a rather limited area. * * ♦ jn winter small groups sug- 

 gesting family units occupy very definite and limited areas, never over- 

 lapping." 



This last statement hardly agrees with the observations of several 

 others; for instance. Dr. Dickey (MS.), referring to Pennsylvania and 

 West Virginia, says: "Particularly in autumn and winter, tufted tits 

 are rovers. They tend to assemble with such birds as Carolina chicka- 



