What is a titmouse?

Tufted Titmouse is a rather tame, active, crested little bird common all year in eastern forests, where its whistled peter-peter-peter song may be heard even during mid-winter thaws. These birds have grey upperparts and white underparts with a white face, a grey crest, a dark forehead and a short stout bill; they have rust-colored flanks. It is related to the chickadees, and like them it readily comes to bird feeders, often carrying away sunflower seeds one at a time. Feeders may be helping it to expand its range: in recent decades, Tufted Titmice have been steadily pushing north. Titmice pairs may remain together all year, joining small flocks with other titmice in winter. Flocks break up in late winter, and pairs establish nesting territories. Male feeds female often from courtship stage until after eggs hatch. Breeding pair may have a "helper," one of their offspring from the previous year. Their nest site is in hole in tree, either natural cavity or old woodpecker hole.