In 1996 the American Ornithologist Union split the plain titmouse into two separate species, the oak titmouse and the juniper titmouse. They appear virtually identical (the oak titmouse has a browner back than the juniper titmouse), but differ in voice and range. It is mostly gray and has a crest or tuft on its head. It is extremely quick, moves around almost constantly and is very difficult to photograph.
I got some relatively good photos yesterday at Big Morongo Canyon.
I love its crest! It is like a brown blue jay. Do the oak and juniper classifications have anything to do with where they usually hang out?
ReplyDeleteThey are substantially smaller than a blue jay. I know the oak titmouse hangs out around oaks, so I suspect the juniper titmouse hangs out around junipers.
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