Black-crested Titmouse
Black-crested Titmouse has surged: up 125% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
About the Black-crested Titmouse
The Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) is a North American member of the Chickadees & Titmice (Paridae). In this analysis it is grouped with the forest birds.
- Size
- 4.5–6 in long (11–15 cm) — a tiny, active songbird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Woodlands and forest edges, including wooded suburbs and parks.
- Diet
- Insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark, with seeds and berries in season.
- Range
- Recorded on 121 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 2 states, most concentrated in the Oaks and Prairies.
- Family
- Paridae · Forest birds
Notable Black-crested Titmouse Trends
Black-crested Titmouse has surged in surveyed states: up 125% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
Black-crested Titmouse Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Black-crested Titmouse is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.21 (95% range 0.14–0.28). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±14.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
| Year | Projected index | 95% low | 95% high |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.20 | 0.13 | 0.28 |
| 2026 | 0.20 | 0.13 | 0.28 |
| 2027 | 0.21 | 0.13 | 0.28 |
| 2028 | 0.21 | 0.13 | 0.28 |
| 2029 | 0.21 | 0.14 | 0.28 |
Where the Black-crested Titmouse Is Detected
BBS routes recording Black-crested Titmouse, sized by most recent count.
Black-crested Titmouse Population Trend by State
| Oklahoma | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
| Texas | +79% | 1969 | 120 |
Black-crested Titmouse Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
| Central Mixed Grass Prairie | +402% | 1969 | 20 |
| Edwards Plateau | +6% | 1969 | 19 |
| Oaks and Prairies | +240% | 1969 | 29 |
| Chihuahuan Desert | +81% | 1971 | 14 |
| Tamaulipan Brushlands | +385% | 1969 | 27 |
| Gulf Coastal Prairie | +100% | 1994 | 8 |
Black-crested Titmouse Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 125% since 1969.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.