Central Park New York City Birds

A small gray songbird with a tufted crest, big black eyes and buffy flanks; active and inquisitive in mid-canopy. In Central Park tufted titmice occur in small family groups in woodlots and along shrub edges, often visiting feeders and producing clear, musical notes.

Small crested gray bird with a short, strong bill, white face with black/gray forehead and peachy flanks; listen for clear, whistled 'peter-peter' notes and watch active, bold movements through mid-canopy.

Common Confusions

• Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus Chickadee has a smaller crest and a bolder black cap-and-throat pattern; titmouse shows a more pronounced crest, larger body and peachy flanks.
• Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis Carolina chickadee is slightly smaller with a shorter bill and different call; titmouse is larger with a tufted crest and rusty flanks.
• Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus Bushtits are tiny, long-tailed and gregarious with plain gray plumage; titmouse is chunkier, crested and less tightly flocked.
• Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis Nuthatch creeps on trunks head-first and has a longer bill and different posture; titmouse forages on twigs and branches in a hopping manner.
• White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis White-breasted nuthatch has a white face and underparts with a distinct downward posture on trunks; titmouse is more rounded with a crest and no white face patch.