Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Almost Wordless Wednesday: The Tufted Titmouse

He's a pert little fellow with a jaunty crest, dark eyes, mouse gray feathering and a touch of rust under his wings. The Tufted Titmouse is an insect (caterpillars are by far it's most important summer food) seed and berry eater and appreciates a garden that offers it tasty spider eggs, cocoons and insects hiding in the dead leaves. Fill your feeders with sunflower seeds and suet and they'll keep you entertained all winter.

xoxogail

PS For more about birds that visit Clay and Limestone go here and here.

Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.

18 comments:

  1. They are the sweetest birds. So lively and handsome.

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  2. I adore them. They distract me from my work!

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  3. I enjoy these little guys when they visit. I don't see them much during the winter, but they're cute little visitors during the summer. And their song is so sweet.

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  4. Sweet looking bird and a nice arty photo too!

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  5. At first I couldn't see him in your almost abstract photo. Love the stuff you've been doing with your new camera!

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  6. Great image, looks like he has an eye on the camera.

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  7. Sort of shaped like a cardinal? Are they the same size? Sunflower seeds must be the chocolate of the bird world. Was feeding birds at the RBG and as soon as the sunflowers were gone, they completely lost interest. Like me after Christmas they need to learn to retrain their tastebuds.....Barbarapc

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  8. I love the paint effect...the colors are so subtle and lovely! It would make a great greeting card!

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  9. Ditto Laurin. The tufted titmouse is one of my favourite birds. So cheery and clever. And as you clearly show: photogenic!

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  10. Very nice! Almost like a water color.

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  11. I've always had Tufted Titmice at my feeders, and they are so cute. Cheerful looking little birds!

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  12. I have never seen one of these guys but I keep looking for them - maybe this year!

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  13. Apparently Titmice don't live up here, so I will have to be content with photos. I like your artistic rendering, there's something so appealing about the crest on the tiny bird.

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  14. I love all the effects you have created with your photos lately, Gail--I agree with Laurin! I usually have a titmouse or two at the window feeder, but I haven't seen one yet this year. I do enjoy them--they're the one bird that isn't intimidated by the cats or dogs staring at them through the window:)

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  15. I have a lot of these little guys in my garden. They are always a pleasure to watch. :o)

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  16. Your new camera affects are so cute. Yep, I love those little guys. Saw a couple of them the other day doing some courting, I think. Seems early to me but they know best!

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  17. Hi Gail. The TTM's are regular visitors at my feeders too. One of my favorites. We have a heavy snow cover here now so I have a really big selection of birds at the feeders. Stay warm. I'm on my way downstairs to make some bread pudding. Warm pudding and hot tea, Best way to spend a bitter winter day.

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson