Juniper Titmouse

Baeolophus ridgwayi

Overview

The Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi) is a passerine (order Passeriformes) species of bird (class Aves) in the tits, chickadees, and titmice family (Paridae). Once classified with the Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) as subspecies of the Plain Titmouse, they were split into separate species in 1996 due to differences in range, song, and genetics.

Description

A small songbird with a short, stubby bill, medium-long tail, black eyes and a short tuft or crest that can be raised. Plain gray-brown color overall, but paler below. Sexes are similar.

Range

Found year-round in the warm, open, dry pinyon-juniper, juniper and desert riparian woods, primarily in the Great Basin, as far west as Texas and south to the eastern Mojave Desert in California and central Arizona.