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Breeding habitat Predominately oak or mixed oak-juniper woodlands, typically found at 5,250- 7,200 feet (1,600-2,200 meters) in Chiricahau and Huachuca Mountains of southeast Arizona. Also found in riparian habitats dominated by Fremont cottonwood, Arizona sycamore, velvet ash, bigtooth maple, and desert willow. Resident in most riparian habitats, except sycamore forest patches of open foothills. Conservation status This species is of moderate conservation importance, primarily because of its limited breeding range and its association with intact oak and riparian forests. Populations are poorly monitored, even within its U.S. range, and precise habitat and area requirements are poorly known. Description Male: Grayish-brown above, including crown, neck, back and wings. Whitish to light gray below with contrasting black throat. Pronounced crest and bridled face pattern are distinctive: the face is white with a black eye line extending from the bill to the cheek, where it is met by a black line extending from the throat. Female: Same as adult male. Juvenile: Same as adults. Vocalizations Song: The total repertoire has not yet been delineated, but individuals have 3 song types. Type 1 song: Used most frequently in distant exchanges with territorial neighbors or intruding males, a series of identical notes. Type 2 song: Consists of a variable number of repetitions of doublets of one note type and is used most frequently in spontaneous advertising, peeta-peeta. Type 3 song: Used in close exchanges between males, also as males approach nest during laying or incubation, and is also given by males approaching nest with food. Type 3 is similar to Type 2, but differs by lacking doublets. Calls: Several calls known, the "chick-a-dee" is the most commonly given call. A "dawn serenade" is a mixture of vocalizations given by the male near nest just before and during egg laying; the female responds by leaving nest cavity and brief chases and copulation follow. Alarm "zee"s are very high-pitched, low-amplitude series of notes similar to those of other Parids. "Sexual calls" are a rapid series of notes given by the female while wing-quivering, usually when male is within 3 feet (1 meter). May preceed copulation. "Begging calls" and "agonistic calls" are also known. Foraging strategy Forages in every tree species, especially oaks, commonly between 10-20 feet (3-6 meters) high; ground foraging is rare, but hops on ground when prey drops from trees or searching for acorns or galls. Typically gleans foliage and forages in bark, hovers while taking prey that has flushed. Diet Adult and larval insects. Feeds on acorns, especially during winter, eating acorn pulp and also searching for larvae of snout beetles growing inside acorns; searches for larvae inside oak galls. Behavior and displays
Courtship Nesting Nest site: Nests in cavities, generally natural ones such as knothole or other spot partly decayed, also uses artificial nest boxes. Female searches for nest site, followed closely by her mate. Commonly nests in sycamore, cottonwoods, and oaks. Height: Ranges between 2-32 feet (0.5-10 meters). Nest: Does not excavate a nest, but will clean cavity by removing small pieces of wood. Constructs a cup nest using various materials, including cottonwood down, dried grass leaves, cotton, downy covering of leaf buds, flowers, catkins, lichens, rabbit fur, and cocoons of spiders and insects. Eggs: 5-7 white and immaculate eggs. Incubation period: Little known, but estimated 13-14 days (this is length of time that the female remains longer in nest to time adults begin feeding trips). Nestling period: Hatchlings are naked with eyes closed. Males may develop a partial brood patch and help with brooding. Both sexes tend to young, helpers also feed nestlings. Fledgling period: Little data on fledgling period. Age at fledging unknown, but estimated at 18-20 days. Both parents and helpers actively feed fledglings; helpers also participate in mobbing. Young are able to fly at 25-27 days. Broods: Single brooded. Cowbird Parasitism: Not known to occur.
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southwestern New
Mexico and southeastern Arizona, including the Mogollan Plateau. In Mexico, occurs in all
mountain ranges that delimit the Mexican Plateau, south to Sierra Madrew del Sur, west of
Isthmus of Tehuantepec. 
