Tufted Titmouse Nesting (Behavior, Eggs, Location)

In woodlands, parks, and suburban areas of the eastern United States, the tufted chickadee (Two-color foam) are versatile nesters, raising young in abandoned tree cavities, nest boxes, fence posts and even empty pipes.

If you’re interested in learning about the nesting habits of tufted tits, our guide will tell you everything you need to know!

Tufted chickadees nest in burrows dug in tree trunks by other birds, especially the larger woodpeckers. Natural tree cavities as well as nest boxes are also used. Once it finds the cavity, it lines it with damp leaves and animal fur before the chickadee lays its eggs.

Our guide provides an in-depth look at the nesting and breeding habits of tufted chickadees, so if you want to learn more, read on!

nest location

Where Do Tufted Chickadees Nest?

Tufted tits live in mixed forests, parks, and orchards. The species has also become more common in the suburbs in recent years, with backyard nesting becoming more common.

Nests are built in naturally formed tree cavities, as well as in cavities previously drilled and used by nesting woodpeckers, such as downy woodpeckers and woodpeckers and northern woodpeckers. Alternative nesting solutions include artificial birdhouses and internal metal pipes.

Do tufted tits nest in the same place every year?

Instead of reusing the same nest for future breeding seasons, a pair of tufted tits will prefer to make their home in a new location each year. If the clutch fails, the pair may attempt a second brood in a different location rather than starting over in the same clearing.

Do Tufted Chickadees Nest in Backyards?

Pairs of tufted tits that nest in backyard trees or in nest boxes are becoming more common as the species expands its range into suburban areas, where they are particularly attracted to bird feeders filled with sunflower seeds.

Tufted tits are burrowing animals,

Do tufted tits use nest boxes?

Tufted tits often use nest boxes when there is no natural cavity in the tree trunk. Preferred is a box with an opening of 2.9 cm (1.125 inches), a height of 20.3 cm (8 inches), and a bottom space of 10.2 cm x 14 cm (4 inches x 5.5 inches).

If the size is any larger, there is a chance that other larger birds can invade and take over the box.

What tree do tufted tits nest in?

Nesting tufted tits use a wide variety of trees, both evergreen and deciduous. Tree species include elm, maple, beech, pine, cypress, oak, dogwood, birch, apple, tupelo, sycamore, hemlock, mulberry, and chestnut.

How Tall Are Tufted Titmouse Nests?

When pairs of tufted tits use tree hollows for nesting, they can be as low as 0.6 m (2 ft) above the ground or as high as 27 m (90 ft). The average range is about 11 to 12 meters (36 to 39 feet) in height.

In order for an aviary to have a chance of attracting nesting tufted tits, it should be installed 1.5 to 4.5 meters (5 to 15 feet) above the ground.

Nested Tufted Titmouse looking out of the nest box

Nest Appearance

What does a tufted tit’s nest look like?

Burrows, whether natural tree cavities, former homes of woodpeckers, or artificial nesting boxes, are lined with a cup-shaped inner nest, built collectively by female tufted chickadees, and lined with animal fur and even human hair.

How big are tufted tit nests?

Observations in many tufted chickadee nests show that the depth of the hole is between 21 and 28 cm (8 and 11 in), and the average diameter of the hole is about 7.5 cm (3 in).

The nest structure can be up to 8 cm (3.1 in) wide, while the opening is between 4.4 and 5.6 cm (1.7 and 2.2 in) wide.

Close up of a tufted tit with nesting material in its beak in spring

phenology

What time of year do tufted tits nest?

Tufted chickadee breeding begins with nesting in late March. The newest pups leave mid-July and most eggs are laid in April, or, if attempting a second or replacement brood, in June.

How Long Do Tufted Titmouses Build Nests?

The incubation period for tufted chickadee eggs is 12 to 14 days. After hatching, a young tufted tit remains in the nest until it is 15 to 16 days old, at which point it can grow its wings.

What month do tufted chickadees lay eggs?

April is the prime month for tufted chickadees to lay eggs in pairs. It takes about a month to hatch and raise the pups to fledgling stage, with most pups leaving the nest in May. Rare second litters may appear in June, but are uncommon.

Where do tufted tits nest in winter?

To avoid overnight freezing temperatures during the harshest winters, it is not uncommon for the tufted chickadee to seek shelter in tree hollows, similar to where it nests.

Hollows for winter roosting are used by solitary birds that are not reused as nesting chambers once spring arrives.

Tufted tit perched in the forest

nest

How do tufted tits build their nests?

Although tufted chickadees nest in tree hollows, they cannot hollow out a room on their own, instead relying on cavities or naturally formed cavities that are formed by different species or in tree trunks or limbs.

The cavity is lined with nesting material laid out by the female, including moist leaves, moss, and grass. Add the animal fur lining as a finishing touch before spawning begins. Construction takes an average of 4 to 11 days.

What Do Tufted Chickadees Build Their Nests With?

A cup-shaped nest was made at the bottom of the nest cavity chosen by a pair of tufted chickadees. Materials include damp leaves, fresh moss, and grass used as a foundation. Animal skins, hair and feathers are used as lining.

Fur or hair can even be plucked from the backs of live animals such as cows and horses.

Do male or female tufted tits build nests?

Tufted tits inspect nest sites together in pairs, although ultimately nest building is done by female tufted tits alone.

A tufted tit collects fur to line its nest

Tufted Chickadee Eggs

What do tufted chickadee eggs look like?

Tufted chickadee eggs are creamy white and sub-oval in shape, with fine reddish-purple spots all over the body. Eggs are 1.7 to 2 cm (0.7 to 0.8 in) long and 1.4 to 1.6 cm (0.6 in) wide.

How many eggs do tufted tits lay?

The average tufted chickadee lays 5 to 6 eggs, but any number in the range of 3 to 9 eggs is not uncommon.

Do male tufted tits sit on eggs?

Only the tufted tit female incubates the eggs. During incubation, the males bring food to their mates, but they do not form a brood area or take turns sitting on the eggs.

A very fluffy tufted tit chick

fledgling and parental care

When do tufted chickadee babies leave the nest?

The chicks develop a full set of adult plumage around day 14 after hatching and usually leave the nest at 15 or 16 days old. The most recently observed instances of eclosion were recorded at 17 to 18 days old.

How many litters do tufted tits have?

Tufted tit pairs produce a brood each season, but if something goes wrong early in the year, the pair may relocate to a new nest and try again. Second litters are rare, but not unheard of.

Young tufted tit chick singing in a tree

common problem

Are tufted tits abandoning their nests?

If a brood fails to hatch or the nest is disturbed by a predator, a nesting pair is likely to abandon the nest. An alternate nesting site will then be found and the couple will relocate and attempt to build an alternate second clutch.

Do tufted tits nest on the ground?

Although tufted chickadees are versatile and adaptable nesters, there are no recorded examples of nesting in pairs on the ground.

Higher elevations have had more success, although naturally occurring hollows at lower elevations are occasionally selected, some as low as 0.6 m (2 ft) from the ground.

Breeding pair of tufted tits

Where do tufted tits nest at night?

Tufted chickadees may be considered gregarious birds that flock to feed during the day, but at night, things are different. Tufted tits are solitary roosters and often seek out habitat away from other birds.

Where possible, individual roosting birds use tree cavities for overnight stays, especially in cold weather.

How to attract nesting tufted tits?

An easy way to attract tufted tits is to place a nest box on a large deciduous tree, backed from any prevailing winds, at a height of between 1.5 and 4.6 meters (5 and 15 feet).

Regularly topping up bird feeding stations with sunflower seeds and mealworms will get the chickadees’ attention, especially in winter, and providing food year-round may increase the chances of encouraging a pair of nesters to make a home in your yard.