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Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Above and below: A Tufted Titmouse in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/18/2011).
Below: A Tufted Titmouse in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/28/2010).
Below: A Tufted Titmouse at Eden Mill Park, Harford Co., Maryland (11/7/2010). Banded.
Above: A Tufted Titmouse investigates strange visitors to a Calvert Co., Maryland woods (9/7/2008).
Below: A Tufted Titmouse in Carroll Co., Maryland (1/2005).
Below: A recently fledged Tufted Titmouse in southeastern South Carolina (6/4/2006).
Below: A Tufted Titmouse cracks a sunflower seed in Carroll Co., Maryland (1/16/2009).
Comments: This common year-round resident of the eastern U.S. is approachable and full of character. It is very curious, often the first bird to respond to birders' "pishing" or squeaking noises. This species is sometimes so used to humans that it has been known to pluck a person's hair to use in nest-building. They can be trained to eat from a human hand, and often bury surplus sunflower seeds in small caches. The mnemonic for the Tufted Titmouse's song is Peter, peter, peter.