SpeciesFacts

All species › Birds › Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

Bird · family Paridae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
37 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
12 years[4]

The Tufted Titmouse is a small songbird in the family Paridae[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide and in the United States, and it is native to 37 US states and territories[2][6][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Tufted Titmouse a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a US national rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. It is on the federal list of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where Tufted Titmouse lives

NatureServe lists the Tufted Titmouse as native in 37 US states and territories, from Texas and Oklahoma in the south to Maine and Minnesota in the north[3]. It also lists it in states such as Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota[3]. A state list shows where NatureServe records the bird, so it is not a promise you will see one there[3].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S4MEWisconsin: native, state rank S4BWIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank SUBSDIowa: native, state rank S4BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S5B,S5NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5BRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (37 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS4Apparently Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS5BSecure (breeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaSUBUnrankable (breeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS4BApparently Secure (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records hardwood, conifer and mixed forest and woodland for this bird, plus shrubland, suburban areas and orchards, and streamside (riparian) areas[10]. It also lives in wooded parks and residential areas[11]. It nests in a natural tree hole, an old woodpecker hole, or a man-made hollow such as a pipe or bird box[11]. Nests sit 1 to 27 m above ground[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Tufted Titmouse eats insects, spiders, small fruits and seeds, and eats more fruits and seeds in the colder months[12]. One estimate puts its diet at 60% invertebrates and 40% seeds[13]. A typical adult is about 17 cm (7 in) long[14]. It weighs about 22 g[15]. The clutch size is 5 to 8, and often 5 to 6[16]. The female incubates for 12 to 14 days, and the young leave the nest at 15 to 18 days[16]. The oldest known banded bird was at least 12 years 5 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 17 cm (7 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 22 g (0.8 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[17] 13.3 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 12 years 5 months
Litter or clutch size[18] 6
Gestation or incubation[19] 13 days
Female maturity[20] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[21] Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[22] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[13]

  • 60% invertebrates
  • 40% seeds

When to look for it

The Tufted Titmouse is active by day[23]. NatureServe calls it a non-migrant, though populations can differ[22]. In GBIF, most US records fall in February, April and May[24]. These records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[24].

January: 1,091,969 recordsJanFebruary: 1,389,222 recordsFebMarch: 1,267,361 recordsMarApril: 1,810,080 recordsAprMay: 1,896,306 recordsMayJune: 892,499 recordsJunJuly: 678,214 recordsJulAugust: 658,461 recordsAugSeptember: 929,583 recordsSepOctober: 982,598 recordsOctNovember: 832,471 recordsNovDecember: 947,085 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,091,969
February1,389,222
March1,267,361
April1,810,080
May1,896,306
June892,499
July678,214
August658,461
September929,583
October982,598
November832,471
December947,085

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Tufted Titmouse as present in 89 park units[25]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 65 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina[26]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Tufted Titmouse endangered?
No. It is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2].
Where does the Tufted Titmouse live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 37 US states and territories, mostly in the eastern and central parts of the country[3]. It lives in forests, woodlands, wooded parks and residential areas[10][11].
What does the Tufted Titmouse eat?
It eats insects, spiders, small fruits and seeds[12]. Fruits and seeds make up more of its food in colder months[12].
How big is a Tufted Titmouse?
A typical adult is about 17 cm (7 in) long[14]. It weighs about 22 g[15].
How long does a Tufted Titmouse live?
The oldest known banded bird was at least 12 years 5 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Tufted Titmouse is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Tufted Titmouse: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Tufted Titmouse as native in 37 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Tufted Titmouse from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 12 years 5 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) is a bird in the family Paridae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Tufted Titmouse is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Tufted Titmouse (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Tufted Titmouse: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Tufted Titmouse. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on food for Tufted Titmouse. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 60% invertebrates, 40% seeds. EltonTraits 1.0
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 17 cm (7 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 22 g (0.8 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Tufted Titmouse. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 13.3 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 6. AnAge
  19. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 13 days. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  21. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe migration category for Tufted Titmouse: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of Tufted Titmouse in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  25. NPSpecies park lists recording Tufted Titmouse as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  26. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Tufted Titmouse: Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.