Tufted titmice are small songbirds that are common across eastern and central North America. With their prominent crest and gray upperparts, they are easy to identify. Titmice are omnivores that eat a wide variety of foods, including seeds, nuts, berries, and insects. But do tufted titmice specifically eat sunflower seeds?
Quick Answer
Yes, tufted titmice readily eat sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds are a favorite food of titmice and they will flock to bird feeders stocked with sunflower seeds to enjoy this high-fat treat. Tufted titmice use their beaks to crack open the shell and access the seed within.
Do Tufted Titmice Visit Bird Feeders?
Tufted titmice are regular visitors at bird feeders, especially in winter when natural food sources are scarce. They are bold and unafraid of human activity, often visiting feeders near houses and readily taking food provided. Titmice will consume a variety of foods offered at bird feeders, including:
- Sunflower seeds
- Safflower seeds
- Shelled peanuts
- Suet
- Nyjer seed
- Millet
- Cracked corn
- Mealworms
Of these, sunflower seeds are one of the preferred foods. Titmice will preferentially feed on sunflower seeds when given a choice.
How Do Titmice Eat Sunflower Seeds?
Sunflower seeds have a hard outer shell that must be cracked open to access the nutrition-dense kernel inside. Tufted titmice have specially adapted beaks that allow them to crack open hard-shelled foods.
Their beaks have a chisel-like tip ideal for hammering through shells. The beak also has a sharp cutting edge inside the mouth that severs the kernel from the shell once opened. It takes practiced skill, but titmice are excellent at using these tools to efficiently access sunflower seeds.
You can often observe titmice at feeders busily crunching away on sunflower seeds. They will hammer at the shell, swivel the seed around to find the optimal angle, and then crack the shell open. They then use their tongue to push out the kernel and swallow it.
Why Do Titmice Like Sunflower Seeds?
There are several reasons why tufted titmice seek out sunflower seeds as a food source:
- High fat content – Sunflower seeds are very high in fat, providing a concentrated source of calories. Birds need a lot of energy, particularly in winter, and sunflower seeds help meet this need.
- Vitamins and minerals – In addition to fat, sunflower seeds provide important micronutrients like vitamin E, magnesium, and selenium.
- Caching behavior – Titmice will collect seeds from feeders and hide or “cache” them in bark crevices and other spots to eat later. The size and shape of sunflower seeds makes them ideal for caching.
- Availability – Sunflower seeds are readily available at bird feeders, making them an easy meal source for titmice.
The high-fat content and broad availability make sunflower seeds an ideal food for tufted titmice throughout the year.
When Do Titmice Eat Sunflower Seeds?
Tufted titmice will eat sunflower seeds whenever they are available. However, they are especially likely to seek them out in the following situations:
- Winter – Titmice rely heavily on sunflower seeds in winter when insect food sources are scarce and they need more fat and calories to maintain body heat.
- Migration – Migrating titmice stop at feeders for quick energy from sunflower seeds to fuel their journey.
- Nesting – Adult titmice need extra nutrition when feeding nestlings and will eat more sunflower seeds at this time.
- Morning – Titmice are most active at bird feeders early in the morning and will stock up on sunflower seeds to start the day.
While they eat sunflower seeds year-round, titmice tend to consume more of them during the energetically demanding times listed above.
Do Other Birds Also Eat Sunflower Seeds?
Tufted titmice are far from the only birds that relish sunflower seeds. Many other common feeder birds will readily eat sunflower seeds, including:
- Cardinals
- Finches
- Chickadees
- Nuthatches
- Woodpeckers
- Jays
- Sparrows
- Doves
Black oil sunflower seeds are the single most popular bird food for attracting a diversity of bird species to feeders. Tufted titmice enjoy sharing spacious feeders with other sunflower seed fans.
What Else Do Titmice Eat?
While sunflower seeds make up a good portion of tufted titmice diets, they eat a diverse array of other foods as well. Their diet consists of:
- Insects – Caterpillars, beetles, ants, wasps, and other insects make up a major part of their diet, especially when breeding.
- Tree seeds – Seeds and nuts from trees like maple, birch, beech, and oak.
- Berries – Fruits including blackberries, blueberries, and hackberries.
- Peanuts – Shelled peanuts are readily eaten at feeders.
- Suet – Fat-rich suet provides an excellent protein source.
- Nectar – Titmice will drink nectar from flowers and feeders.
Their diverse palate allows tufted titmice to adapt to changes in food availability across seasons. But sunflower seeds remain a key part of their nutritional strategy throughout the year at feeders.
Interesting Facts About Tufted Titmice
- Titmice get their name from their repetitive, musical call that sounds like “peter-peter-peter”.
- The tufted crest on their head is about 1 inch high and can be raised or lowered at will.
- They are cavity nesters, often nesting in abandoned woodpecker holes.
- Clutches contain 5-8 eggs that are incubated for 14 days.
- Both parents share feeding of the young nestlings.
- Young leave the nest at 16-18 days old but remain with parents for a few weeks.
- They are non-migratory and maintain territories year-round.
- Oldest recorded tufted titmouse was over 13 years old.
- They sometimes join mixed flocks with chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers.
In addition to their cracked-open sunflower seeds, look for these active and acrobatic little songbirds at your feeders and in winter flocks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, tufted titmice do readily consume sunflower seeds. The high fat and nutrient content make them an ideal food source, especially in winter. Titmice are well equipped with specialized beaks to hammer open the hard shell and access the meaty kernel inside. While sunflower seeds make up a significant portion of their diet, titmice are omnivorous and also feast on insects, berries, tree seeds, and other foods. Next time you see titmice busily working away at the sunflower seeds in your feeder, know that they are fueling up thanks to this nutritious backyard snack.