Juniper Titmouse

Physical Traits

The Juniper Titmouse is a small gray bird with plain gray face, small tuft or crest on its head, and small dark eye and bill. It is paler gray below with a long tail. It is almost identical to the closely-related Oak Titmouse, which has a browner back. The Juniper Titmouse was considered a subspecies of the Plain Titmouse, which was split into this species and the Oak Titmouse in 1996.

Habitat

The Juniper Titmouse lives year-round in dry, open woodlands in the Great Basin, preferring juniper woods. Nests of grass, moss, mud, fur and feathers are built in a tree cavity, crevice, fence-post hole or nest box. The species may be seen hanging upside down, foraging on foliage and bark, or hammering seeds against a branch to open them.

Recommended Feeders

Feeder Tips

Titmice are sure-footed and need no perches. We recommend a feeder with openings large enough for the titmouse's beak. Hang your feeder in or near a tree, and use a squirrel guard, because sunflower seeds and nuts are squirrels' favorites, too.

States and Regions Found

Great Basin which includes the southwestern states of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, as well as eastern California and Oregon.