LXXXVII 



TUFTED TITMOUSE 

 73 1. Baeolophus bicolor (Linn.) 



The Tufted Titmouse, with its coat of dull whitish 

 color or ashy brown and its elongated crown feathers, 

 presents a picture familiar to everyone who makes a trip 

 into the timbered areas during the winter or early spring. 

 The bird is about the size of an English Sparrow and is 

 a permanent resident, but is seen most frequently dur- 

 ing the winter months. These birds form into small 

 flocks while going from one feeding ground to another; 

 they are fond of the heavily wooded regions, nesting in 

 natural cavities or abandoned Woodpecker holes, and 

 laying from six to eight eggs, in early May. 



While the male takes no part in the construction of 

 the nursery, he is the very emblem of love and fidelity 

 to the female during her labors, and may be seen fol- 

 lowing her to and from the prospective home site, ever 

 with a cheerful word and much encouragement by his 

 actions. 



The Tufted Titmouse is a restless bird, always on 

 the move, constantly singing its ' ' peto, peto, peto ! " It 

 is impudent and inquisitive and responds to your call, 

 if you make a fair effort at imitating its voice. As the 

 bird approaches it jumps from limb to limb, looking all 

 the while for the source of the call, then disappears for 

 a few minutes, only to return and probably bring a new 

 recruit to assist in locating the vexatious and unwel- 

 come intruder on the Titmouse domain. (Fig. 132.) 



These birds have the habit of hammering a captured 

 insect that is too large to be swallowed whole. The bug 

 is grasped firmly in the bird's bill and pounded against 

 a limb until pulpified. The bird holds its food with its 

 strong little foot, while it pulls off a piece and swallows it. 



The Titmouse is of much benefit to the farmer as it 

 not only eats the living insects during the summer but 

 seeks the eggs and larvae all winter. After watching the 

 actions of the trio, the Tufted Titmouse, the Chickadee 



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