A recent taxonomic change replaced the genus Parus with Baeolophus and merged the Black-crested Titmouse of the southwest with the "Eastern" Tufted Titmouse, east of Texas [AOU 1998]. This resident eastern subspecies is found in all seasons from NW Texas to the Great Lakes, east to central New England and throughout the SE, except the southern tip of Florida [Grubb and Pravosudov 1994 (BNA)]. The present New England range is the result of a recent (1940's) expansion northwards, though very seldom over water to islands [Kricher 1981]. This expansion has been attributed to a warming climate, reforestation and an increase in winter feeding [Veit and Petersen 1993].
The preferred habitat at all times of year includes primarily deciduous forest, also parks and suburban areas with tall trees. Nests are in cavities excavated by other species, also in nest boxes [Grubb and Pravosudov 1994 (BNA)]. Bent [1946] reported a diet of 66% invertebrate animal food and 44% vegetable, including seeds and some fruit. During fall and winter, titmice hoard stores of food [Sherry 1989], and form flocks whose territories are in the 5-10 hectare range, sometimes aggregating at heavy oak or beech crops [Grubb and Pravosudov 1994 (BNA)]. Although there is no migration, young may disperse south in fall, especially from the northern part of the range [Hall 1983]. There was also some evidence of a spring movement northwards along, or away from the Connecticut River [this study 1996-1998]. The dominant pair from a winter flock establishes a breeding territory within the winter flock range [Brawn and Samson 1983].
Populations may be regulated by winter food supply, number of nesting cavities and area of suitably mature deciduous forest, e.g. >2 hectares in Ohio [Grubb and Pravosudov 1994 (BNA)]. The Breeding Bird Survey (1982-1991) shows no significant declines in Tufted Titmouse populations in any state, and records significant increases in CT, MA and NH, the latter increasing at 14.7% per year.
|
|
 |
Observations
(Eastern) Tufted Titmouse is not a migrant species, although directional coastal movements of variable magnitude are observed in S New England. The last 40+ years have seen both eastward and northward range expansion, and also population increases over this same time period. This deciduous forest specialist was detected in A, B and C sites, with fluctuations in numbers, but no biologically significant preferences noted. The state differences by period are also not statistically significant; however, densities clearly and significantly reflect the pattern of range expansion and population increase. Thus densities are highest in the southernmost state (CT), decreasing through MA and NH to the lowest density in our northernmost transects (VT).
|
|
|
|
|
