- Baeolophus ridgwayi
Identification
Length 15cm (5.75 in), weight 17gm. A small and totally gray bird with a distinctive pointed topnotch. The face is plain gray, distinct from the other members of the titmouse genus. The sides are slightly lighter in color. Sexes are similar.
Similar Species
Essentially identical in appearance to the Oak Titmouse; separated best by range, with latter only on the west side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Also only distinguishable from the other Titmouse species by plumage color - note the gray color with very little if any brown.
Distribution
Intermountain western United States and northern Sonora, Mexico.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized:[1]: B. r. ridgwayi and B. r. zaleptus. The American Ornithologists' Union split the Plain Titmouse into the Oak Titmouse and the Juniper Titmouse in 1996.
Habitat
Open woodlands of pinyon-juniper, juniper and desert riparian woods.
Behaviour
An extremely active bird; rarely sits on a perch for more than a few seconds, and even then constantly moving its head and position. Seen either individually, in pairs, or small groups. Does not form large glocks.
- Diet: Includes insects and spiders, also berries, acorns, and some seeds.
- Breeding: Its nest is lined with grass, moss, mud, hair, feathers, and fur. 3-9 eggs are laid and incubated by the female for 14-16 days.
- Voice: varying series of notes, all phrases alike, at same pitch. The call sounds like tschick-adee.[2]
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Smithsonian Birds of North America. F.J. Alsop III, Ed. DK Publishing, NY., 2001. ISBN 978-0756622848
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Juniper Titmouse. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Juniper_Titmouse
