Black-crested Titmouse

A series of bright, pure whistles, often repeated from an exposed perch. It sounds cheerful and ringing, with each note clean and easy to pick out.

This is a year-round resident across its range. You can find it in the same woodlots and neighborhoods in every season.

Look for it in oak woods, mesquite scrub, streamside groves, and leafy neighborhoods in south-central Texas and nearby Mexico. It likes trees with tangled cover and shows up readily at backyard feeders.

Spring is the noisiest time, when pairs whistle from exposed perches and defend nest sites in cavities. In fall and winter, they travel in small family groups and often join mixed feeding flocks.

A lively little songbird with a spiky black crest, big dark eyes, and a curious expression. It bounces through branches in short hops, often pausing to peer at you before giving a scratchy scold or a bright whistle.