Feb 01
2008
Demented Tufted Titmouse
Our house is under siege from a demented tufted titmouse.
By any measure, these cute little birds are aggressive. They will swoop down and help themselves to the hair of a sleeping dog or steal threads from your laundry drying in the sun to line their nests. But this particular titmouse is attacking our house windows.
I have read the aggressive male titmouses (titmice?) will see their reflections in windows and try to battle the competition. They establish themselves at the top of the pecking order in time for mating season.
That would explain why this particular titmouse appears to be on a mission. He is trying to eliminate the enemy. But from inside the house, it appears that he is trying to get in.
Tufted Titmouse Looking In
Outside my office window and my son’s bedroom window directly upstairs, the titmouse moves back and forth. He screams “Peter, peter, peter!” Then he bashes at the window, clings to the screen and pecks at the windowpane. After that’s done, he’ll do it all again, moving from the upstairs to the downstairs.
I have tried putting out a feeder on the tree outside to distract him, but that’s not working. If he’s still at his battle plan on Saturday, when I am not in the office and won’t have to sit in the dark, I’ll close the curtains to try and eliminate the reflection he’s taken such a dislike to.
In other bird news…
For the very first time since we have been living here, I saw a group of cedar waxwings. They are very skittish. I saw the first when I was driving down the long driveway from errands. Later, when I was eating lunch, I noticed an unusual group on the patio table. Yes!
Drat-it-all. I had to actually do some work this afternoon, which prevented me from sneaking about the back yard with my camera. I hope they return tomorrow.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:51 am
The summer before last we had a completely crazy humming bird. He attacked any person or critter that walked out on the deck. The tailless cats took to a military belly crawl to try to get out into the garden. Good times
February 1st, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I have heard of Cardinals and Robins doing this but not Tufted Timouse. Intersting. I always hope the figure out that the bird in the window isn’t there. Poor things.
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 am
That second picture is almost a bit creepy. He looks positively evil.
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
How funny about the titmouse. We had the very same experience with a male cardinal the first 4 years we were in our house. And, apparently, he had done it to the previous owners as well. He even ruined some windows that were scratched beyond repair. He’s quit doing it though, I don’t know if he tired of it or decided that he liked us or that his reflection really wasn’t much of a threat! I talk to them all the time, too. They are such a fixture. I also loved your doves post - we’re sitting at breakfast right now watching about 15 of them milling around under the feeders ad occasionally hopping up onto the birdbath to take a drink. Thanks for all the stats, too. Fascinating!
February 3rd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Hi All,
This doesn’t seem to be an uncommon event!
Here’s the update: The demented titmouse is still there. Closing curtains and blinds doesn’t deter him, so I am leaving them open so he can keep me company while I work. The cat is showing interest. And when we’re in other parts of the house we hear him knocking insistently on the windows.
I hope he finds another hobby pretty soon. Frankly, I’m a little worried about his mental stability.
–Robin (Bumblebee)
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
It occurs to me that "Demented Titmouse" sounds like the name of a British headbanger band! Eh?
–Robin (Bumblebee)