70birds
That Nest in Birdhouses70birds
That Nest in BirdhousesToo many bird houses can drive off nesting birds, including a specific bird species we want to attract.
For most yards, select just one or two bird species that are known to nest in bird houses in that region.
See each species page for habits, geographic ranges and optimum locations and placement.
Nest boxes simulate tree cavities.
Some birds that nest in tree cavities will also nest inside wood nest boxes if they are the right size.
Some birds that nest on tree branches, cliffs, and rock ledges will also nest on wood platforms.
Birds like birdhouses to be in their favorite places.
More than 70 North American bird species live in nest boxes or on platforms.
See which birds live near you. Learn about those birds and how to make birdhouses for them.
Tufted Titmouse
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Baeolophus
Species: bicolor
La. passer sparrow, small bird
La. forma form, kind, species
La. parum too little
La. parus titmouse, tomtit
La. -idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. baios short, small;
Gr. lophos crest
La. bi twice
Six inches long. Black bill, eyes and forehead extending up to a conspicuous pointed crest. Ashen-gray upper parts.
Gray wings and tail. Dull white sides of head, white under parts and faint orange under wings.
Tufted titmice are year around residents in forests and groves throughout most of the eastern U.S. from the Gulf States up to Michigan, the Great Lakes region and over to Maine.
Tufted titmice are not shy birds. They are inquisitive and may be approached with ease. They might eat from your hands. They have similar acrobatic habits to those of the Chickadees.
Early ornithologists who removed parents from nests for research discovered their fierce resistance when being invaded. They would even return to the nest while the researchers were inspecting their nests.
Tufted titmice forage often in flocks with chickadees and nuthatches for insects, nuts, berries, and seeds. They are cautious at feeders usually taking seeds and returning for more after they are eaten.
Feed titmice suet and suet mixes, sunflower seeds, nyjer (thistle) and other small seeds, unsalted nuts, safflower, bread crumbs, berries and mealworms.
Attract titmice. Plant sumac and bayberry for their wild fruit and other shrubs and small trees to provide cover for them and the insects they eat. Leave an area for a pile of fallen, uncut shrubs for them to forage.
Tufted titmice build nests of leaves, moss, feathers, fibrous bark strips and cattle hair
They usually in natural or abandoned cavities in stumps or trees and correctly sized and mounted bird houses in their common habitats.
Females lay five to eight white speckled eggs. Young hatch after about two weeks of incubation. Fledglings leave the nest in about another three weeks.
The tufted titmouse birdhouse is the same as for white and red-breasted nuthatches, plain titmice and chickadees.
Make a 4″ by 4″ floor and a 9″ inside floor to ceiling height. Drill a 1 1/4″ diameter entrance hole located 7″ above the floor. Cut or drill ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof. Secure a hinged roof secured with shutter hooks.
Assemble with corrosion resistant screws fit to pre-drilled pilot holes.
Install nest boxes for tufted titmice in forests or groves on a tree trunk from chest level to just out of reach, higher if necessary. Place a few chips on the nest box floor. Chickadees and nuthatches may use this nest box.
Remove the nest from the box after the brood rearing season is past.
If you mount a Winter Warmer and occasionally lift the lid in cold weather, you may see several cuddling titmice and possibly with chickadees and nuthatches.
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Baeolophus
Species: bicolor
La. passer sparrow, small bird
La. forma form, kind, species
La. parum too little
La. parus titmouse, tomtit
La. -idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. baios short, small;
Gr. lophos crest
La. bi twice
Six inches long. Black bill, eyes and forehead extending up to a conspicuous pointed crest. Ashen-gray upper parts. Gray wings and tail. Dull white sides of head, white under parts and faint orange under wings.
Tufted titmice are year around residents in forests and groves throughout most of the eastern U.S. from the Gulf States up to Michigan, the Great Lakes region and over to Maine.
Tufted titmice are not shy birds. They are inquisitive and may be approached with ease. They might eat from your hands. They have similar acrobatic habits to those of the Chickadees.
Early ornithologists who removed parents from nests for research discovered their fierce resistance when being invaded. They would even return to the nest while the researchers were inspecting their nests.
Tufted titmice forage often in flocks with chickadees and nuthatches for insects, nuts, berries, and seeds. They are cautious at feeders usually taking seeds and returning for more after they are eaten.
Feed titmice suet and suet mixes, sunflower seeds, nyjer (thistle) and other small seeds, unsalted nuts, safflower, bread crumbs, berries and mealworms.
Attract titmice. Plant sumac and bayberry for their wild fruit and other shrubs and small trees to provide cover for them and the insects they eat. Leave an area for a pile of fallen, uncut shrubs for them to forage.
Tufted titmice build nests of leaves, moss, feathers, fibrous bark strips and cattle hair.
They usually in natural or abandoned cavities in stumps or trees and correctly sized and mounted bird houses in their common habitats.
Females lay five to eight white speckled eggs. Young hatch after about two weeks of incubation. Fledglings leave the nest in about another three weeks.
The tufted titmouse birdhouse is the same as for white and red-breasted nuthatches, plain titmice and chickadees.
Make a 4″ by 4″ floor and a 9″ inside floor to ceiling height. Drill a 1 1/4″ diameter entrance hole located 7″ above the floor. Cut or drill ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof.
Assemble with screws fit to pre-drilled pilot holes. Secure a hinged roof secured with shutter hooks.
Mount nest boxes for tufted titmice in forests or groves on tree trunks from chest level to just out of reach, higher if necessary. Remove the nest after the brood rearing seasons are over.
Chickadees and nuthatches may use this nest box.
If you mount a Winter Warmer and occasionally lift the lid in cold weather, you may see several cuddling titmice and possibly with chickadees and nuthatches.
Tufted Titmouse
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home
Baeolophus bicolor
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Baeolophus
Species: bicolor
La. passer sparrow, small bird
La. forma form, kind, species
La. parum too little
La. parus titmouse, tomtit
La. -idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. baios short, small;
Gr. lophos crest
La. bi twice
Six inches long. Black bill, eyes and forehead extending up to a conspicuous pointed crest. Ashen-gray upper parts.
Gray wings and tail. Dull white sides of head, white under parts and faint orange under wings.
Tufted titmice are year around residents in forests and groves throughout most of the eastern U.S. from the Gulf States up to Michigan, the Great Lakes region and over to Maine.
Tufted titmice are not shy birds. They are inquisitive and may be approached with ease. They might eat from your hands. They have similar acrobatic habits to those of the Chickadees.
Early ornithologists who removed parents from nests for research discovered their fierce resistance when being invaded. They would even return to the nest while the researchers were inspecting their nests.
Tufted titmice forage often in flocks with chickadees and nuthatches for insects, nuts, berries, and seeds.
They are cautious at feeders usually taking seeds and returning for more after they are eaten.
Feed titmice suet and suet mixes, sunflower seeds, nyjer (thistle) and other small seeds, unsalted nuts, safflower, bread crumbs, berries and mealworms.
Attract titmice. Plant sumac and bayberry for their wild fruit and other shrubs and small trees to provide cover for them and the insects they eat. Leave an area for a pile of fallen, uncut shrubs for them to forage.
Tufted titmice build nests of leaves, moss, feathers, fibrous bark strips and cattle hair usually in natural or abandoned cavities in stumps or trees and correctly sized and mounted bird houses in their common habitats.
Females lay five to eight white speckled eggs. Young hatch after about two weeks of incubation. Fledglings leave the nest in about another three weeks.
Tufted Titmouse Birdhouse
The tufted titmouse birdhouse is the same as for white and red-breasted nuthatches, plain titmice and chickadees.
Make a 4″ by 4″ floor and a 9″ inside floor to ceiling height. Drill a 1 1/4″ diameter entrance hole located 7″ above the floor. Cut or drill ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof. Attach a hinged roof secured with shutter hooks.
Tufted Titmouse Birdhouse Plans
Assemble with corrosion resistant screws fit to pre-drilled pilot holes.
Install nest boxes for tufted titmice in forests or groves on a tree trunk from chest level to just out of reach, higher if necessary. Place a few chips on the nest box floor.
Remove the nest from the box after the brood rearing season is past.
Chickadees and nuthatches may also use this nest box.
If you mount a Winter Warmer and occasionally lift the lid in cold weather, you may see several cuddling titmice and possibly with chickadees and nuthatches.
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home