Oak Titmouse

Baeolophus inornatus

Overview

The Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) is a passerine (order Passeriformes) species of bird (class Aves) in the tits, chickadees, and titmice family (Paridae). Once classified with the Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi) 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 oak or oak-pine forests surrounding the central valley of California, west of the Sierra Nevada mountains, from southern Oregon to Baja California, Mexico.