Oak Titmouse

The Birdhouse Network?s Most Wanted
Tenth in a Series

By Tina Phillips

Oak Titmouse

by David Leahy, www.leahy.to

Cool facts: Until 1997, the Oak Titmouse and Juniper Titmouse were considered a single species, Plain Titmouse. With new genetic evidence, they are now recognized as sister species, best identified by their range and voice.

Description: The Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) is a small bird with a crest. Upperparts are olive-brownish gray, underparts are medium-gray or grayish-white. Dark eye and small dark bill. Sexes look alike but males tend to be slightly larger than females.

Breeding range: Southwest Oregon through California to northwestern reaches of Baja California, Mexico. Preferred habitat: Low- to mid-elevation dry oak or oakpine woodlands. Also western juniper woodlands, open pine forests, and single-leaf piñon woodlands.

Diet: Berries and seeds of oak, pine, thistle, and poison oak. Also invertebrates such as true bugs, caterpillars, beetles, ants, wasps, spiders, and grasshoppers.

Conservation status: According to the Breeding Bird Survey, Oak Titmouse is declining across its range by about 1.4 percent annually. Most significant decreases are in grasslands of southern California, the Central Valley, and the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada range, and locally where oaks have been cleared. Range expansion has been observed in previously unoccupied areas where trees have been planted.

Causes of decline: Clearing of oak woodlands for agriculture, rangeland, and urbanization have significantly decreased suitable habitat in California. Nearly 50 percent of California?s oak woodland has been lost.

Number of nesting records in TBN database: 107

Nest-box tips: Oak Titmice nest primarily in tree holes or in cavities excavated by woodpeckers. Nest boxes and other artificial sites are also used readily. Standard nest boxes should have an entrance hole diameter of 1.5 to 1.75 inches and be placed 10 to 15 feet high, facing north or away from prevailing winds.

How can you help? Although the species is still common throughout its range, stability of populations will depend largely on the maintenance of ecologically diverse oak woodlands. Landowners can protect older, larger trees used for nesting, especially trees with natural cavities. In addition, landowners are encouraged to provide and monitor nest boxes. Contribute to the study and conservation of cavity-nesting birds by sending your data to The Birdhouse Network (see www.birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse or send email to birdhouse@cornell.edu).

Breeding Bird Survey trends, 1966?2003

Source: Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2005. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966?2004. Version 2005.2. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.

For permission to reprint all or part of this article, please contact Laura Erickson, editor, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, NY, 14850. Phone: (607) 254-1114. email: lle24@cornell.edu