Juniper Titmouse Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesJuniper Titmouse
Small crested songbird with a stout round bill. Its long body and medium-long tail makes it appear bigger than it is. Drab gray above and paler below.
© Jack Parlapiano / Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, February 14, 2020Plain gray bird with a prominent black eye and a feisty tuft of feathers on its head.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryUtah, May 22, 2020Often calls and sings from elevated perches—a rapid and rolling series of 5 to 15 syllables that sounds almost like a video game.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 20, 2012Not all videos have sound
Small chickadee like songbird with a crest. Drab gray overall with a beady black eye that stands out on its plain face.
© Albert Linkowski / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 15, 2019Found in pinyon pine and juniper woodlands. Forages acrobatically with their strong feet, clinging to twigs and branches while they reach for seeds or insects.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, May 04, 2019Nests in holes in trees created naturally or excavated by woodpeckers. Also uses nest boxes.
© Ted Floyd / Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 08, 2016© James Hoffman / Macaulay LibraryUtah, December 29, 2017
Similar SpeciesOak Titmouse
Adult/immature
The Oak Titmouse is nearly identical to the Juniper Titmouse, but their ranges overlap only in extreme northern California. Oak Titmice are more brownish-gray on the back compared to the pale gray backs of Juniper Titmice.
© Ken Chamberlain / Macaulay LibraryOregon, March 14, 2017Similar SpeciesTufted Titmouse
Adult
Tufted Titmice live in the East and their range does not overlap with Juniper Titmouse. Tufted Titmice have white bellies with a rusty wash on their sides which Juniper Titmice lack.
© Ben McGann / Macaulay LibraryNew York, December 05, 2016Similar SpeciesBushtit
Male (Interior)
The Bushtit is much smaller than Juniper Titmouse, with a smaller bill and lacks the Juniper Titmouse's crest.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, March 13, 2017Similar SpeciesGray Vireo
Adult/immature
Gray Vireos have a paler belly and lack the Juniper Titmouse's crest. Gray Vireos also tend to perch leaning more forward than Juniper Titmice and are methodical rather than acrobatic foragers.
© Ryan Shaw / Macaulay LibraryArizona, August 29, 2015Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Paridae)
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