# Black-crested Titmouse

*Baeolophus atricristatus*

They are known to pluck hair from living mammals, including humans, to line their nests for insulation.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Paridae › Baeolophus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Open oak-juniper woodlands, mesquite brushlands, and suburban gardens.
- **Diet:** Primarily insects like caterpillars and beetles; also consumes seeds, acorns, and berries.
- **Range:** Texas, Oklahoma, Northeastern Mexico
- **Size:** 14-15 cm in length with a wingspan of approximately 23 cm.
- **Lifespan:** 2 to 5 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat fragmentation and predation by domestic cats.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. These curious birds are safe to observe and often visit backyard feeders. Maintain a respectful distance to avoid disruption of their foraging.

## About

The black-crested titmouse or Mexican titmouse ( Baeolophus atricristatus ), is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. Once considered a subspecies of the tufted titmouse ( B. bicolor ), it was recognized as a separate species in 2002. It is native to southern Texas, Oklahoma, and east-central Mexico. Vagrants have been seen as far north and east as St. Louis, Missouri.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/52fd962e-126d-4fca-8d51-f6b34fec4802
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13631
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baeolophus atricristatus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/249720329/medium.jpeg (Sam Kieschnick, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.