This week’s Bird of the Week, compliments of the Weminuche Audubon Society and Audubon Rockies, is the juniper titmouse.
The identify titmouse originated with phrases in Old English that joined collectively meant “small bird”. In the U.S., there are 5 species of titmice, every everlasting residents of the area the place they’re discovered. Titmice, chickadees and birds merely referred to as tits, are all associated members of the Paridae household of birds which ranges throughout the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, North America and in Africa.
In North America, members of the Paridae household with crests are referred to as titmice and people with out chickadees. These cousins all have brief little beaks, brief wings and comparatively drab plumage. They are energetic, agile birds typically discovered hanging the other way up to feed, consuming bugs when available, and seeds and berries throughout winter. They will come to yard feeders for sunflower and suet, the place they will develop into fairly tame.
Until 1996 when it was acknowledged as a separate species, this cheerful little chook with the jaunty crest of feathers was referred to as the plain titmouse. Its new identify displays the forests it inhabits. It is all grey with beady black eyes, and its lengthy physique and tail could make it seem bigger than it’s.
Juniper titmice are habitat specialists of pinyon/juniper forests. They are mostly discovered the place juniper is the dominant tree species and rarely wander removed from their nesting territory. Most of their vary within the southwest is discovered inside Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.
They require massive, mature bushes which have pure or woodpecker-created cavities for nesting. These cavities are additionally vital for winter survival as roosting websites the place these birds decrease nighttime physique temperatures to preserve vitality. In the bushes, a titmouse can typically be heard hammering open a seed by pounding it towards a department or holding one between its ft and pounding it with its beak. This model is employed to reap pinyon seeds, acorns and small berries like juniper.
The general decline of pinyon/juniper forests from drought and illness poses a risk to those still-common birds.
For data on occasions, go to www.weminucheaudubon.org and www.fb.com/weminucheaudubon/.
Photo courtesy Charles Martinez
