Old Faithful

Day after day and week after week, the tufted titmouse (Parus bicolor) is the most faithful visitor to my backyard feeders. I get a kick out of this bird's eating habits; they quickly grab one sunflower seed then fly to the nearest tree branch and hold the seed with its foot in order to peck it open --a process that continues all day. These guys seem like the nervous type. Even their flight seems a bit fluttery and erratic. Titmice are found year round throughout the great eastern deciduous forests of North America. They nest in tree cavities (either naturally occurring or abandoned by woodpeckers) where they line the inner portion of the nest with hair. Scientists have identified the hairs as comming from various sources: raccoon, possum, dogs, cats, and even human.