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Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor |
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| The Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) occurs across most of the eastern United States west to the Great Plains. Until the 1970s there were two species recognized, the Tufted Titmouse and the Black-crested Titmouse. From the 1970s until 2002 these two species were "lumped" into just the Tufted Titmouse, but then in 2002 they were again split, so once more we have both species. The "normal" Tufted Titmouse, such as the bird shown at the right, is widespread across all of Eastern North America. It has a gray crest and a black forehead. This was a digital shot in Bastrop Co., Texas, in November, 2005, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender. The Black-crested Titmouse, restricted to central and west Texas and Mexico, has a black crest and a pale or sometimes buffy forehead. |  |
| There is an area in central Texas where an odd form of the Tufted Titmouse occurs. These birds show the typical gray crest of the Tufted, but have a bright rufous forehead. I have seen this variety mainly in Gonzales Co., Texas, but they are known to occur in other nearby counties as well. Shown here is a Gonzales Co., Tufted Titmouse. The shot was a digital capture with a Canon EOS D60 and EF 600 mm F/4L IS lens. The bird was photographed in January, 2003. Note the rufous patch above the bill on the bird, very unlike the typical Tufted Titmouse seen elsewhere in east Texas or the eastern U.S. |  |
| The next 5 images of a Tufted Titmouse were taken at Wichita Mountains N.W.R., Comanche Co., Oklahoma, in April, 2007, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender. |  |
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| Hybrid Tufted x Black-crested Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor x atricristatus Southeast Metro Park, Travis Co., Texas 13 February 2014 |
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| Hybrid Tufted x Black-crested Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor x atricristatus Southeast Metro Park, Travis Co., Texas 13 February 2014 |
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| Hybrid Tufted x Black-crested Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor x atricristatus Southeast Metro Park, Travis Co., Texas 13 February 2014 |
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| Hybrid Tufted x Black-crested Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor x atricristatus Southeast Metro Park, Travis Co., Texas 13 February 2014 |
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| Hybrid Tufted x Black-crested Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor x atricristatus Southeast Metro Park, Travis Co., Texas 13 March 2014 |
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| Hybrid Tufted x Black-crested Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor x atricristatus Southeast Metro Park, Travis Co., Texas 13 March 2014 |
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