Oak Titmouse Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesOak Titmouse
Small songbird with a short, stubby bill, a short crest, and a medium-long tail. Plain gray-brown overall, but paler below. Its beady black eye stands out on its plain face.
© Sharif Uddin / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 14, 2020Small crested songbird with a short, round bill. Rather nondescript gray-brown above and paler below. Frequently sings a scratchy and rapid song.
© Jim Gain / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 08, 2018Rather plain gray-brown bird with a crest that can be raised or lowered. In most cases the crest is at least partially visible, as in this individual.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 29, 1997Not all videos have sound
Flits between branches and trees, flying with a shallow undulating motion. Tends to feed among the woody twigs in the lower canopies of oaks and other trees.
© Kent Leland / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 10, 2017Plain gray-brown overall with paler underparts. Sometimes holds its crest down.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 29, 2020Nests in holes in trees created naturally or excavated by woodpeckers. Sometimes they partially excavate a cavity in softer wood.
© Maury Swoveland / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 22, 2017Found in warm, open, dry oak or oak-pine woodlands.
© Kent Forward / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 21, 2017Similar SpeciesJuniper Titmouse
Adult/immature
Juniper and Oak Titmice look extremely similar, but generally do not overlap except in extreme northern California. Juniper Titmice average slightly grayer, and their calls are different.
© Taylor Abbott / Macaulay LibraryUtah, April 22, 2017Similar SpeciesGray Vireo
Adult/immature
Gray Vireos have a heavier bill than Oak Titmice and they lack the Oak Titmouse's crest. They also have pale spectacles, a feature that Oak Titmice don't have.
© Ryan Shaw / Macaulay LibraryArizona, August 29, 2015Similar SpeciesPlumbeous Vireo
Adult/immature
Plumbeous Vireos have heavier bills and show more contrast than Oak Titmice, with pale spectacles and white wingbars, 2 features that Oak Titmice don't have.
© William Higgins / Macaulay LibraryArizona, January 17, 2017Similar SpeciesBushtit
Male (Pacific)
Bushtits are smaller and thinner, with even shorter, stubbier bills and more frenetic actions than Oak Titmice. They also lack the Oak Titmouse's crest.
© Caroline Lambert / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 28, 2016Similar SpeciesTufted Titmouse
Adult
The range of Tufted Titmice does not overlap with Oak Titmouse. Tufted Titmouse are darker gray with a cinnamon wash on the sides that Oak Titmice lack.
© Ben McGann / Macaulay LibraryNew York, December 05, 2016Rotate 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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