I had the chance to photograph a Tufted Titmouse cracking open a sunflower seed in my yard. This is a behavior I see often in winter, but watching it up close really shows how efficient these birds are when feeding.
Tufted Titmice are one of the few songbirds that regularly use their feet to hold food. That ability gives them better control when working on hard seeds like sunflower seeds. If you want a deeper look at how Tufted Titmice handle and store food, I covered that behavior in more detail in my post on Tufted Titmouse feeding behavior with sunflower seeds.
How a Tufted Titmouse Eats Sunflower Seeds
When a Tufted Titmouse grabs a sunflower seed, it follows a clear and repeatable process.
- Grabs a seed: The bird takes a single sunflower seed from a feeder or the ground.
- Moves to a perch: It flies to a nearby branch where it can brace itself.
- Pins the seed: Using its feet, the titmouse holds the seed firmly in place.
- Cracks the shell: The bird uses short, sharp strikes with its beak to split the shell.
- Eats the kernel: Once the shell opens, the titmouse pulls out the seed and eats it.
- Moves on quickly: The entire process takes only a few seconds before the bird looks for the next seed.
This behavior allows the bird to feed efficiently while staying alert for predators.
Why Sunflower Seeds Matter to Tufted Titmice
Sunflower seeds are a major food source for Tufted Titmice, especially in winter. They are high in fat and protein, which helps birds maintain energy when temperatures drop and natural food sources are limited.
For a broader overview of the Tufted Titmouse, including habitat, diet, and behavior, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology provides a solid species profile on All About Birds.
Tufted Titmice also store food. I often see them carry sunflower seeds away from feeders and hide them in bark crevices or leaf litter. These cached seeds help them survive periods when food is harder to find.
In addition to sunflower seeds, Tufted Titmice will eat peanuts, suet, mealworms, Nyjer seed, and safflower. Even so, sunflower seeds remain one of the most reliable foods for them throughout the winter months.
Image Information (First Image):
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- ISO: 8000
- Aperture: 8
- Shutter: 1/2000
- Exposure Compensation: +0.7
- Focal Length: 500
Photographing this behavior up close was a good reminder of how adaptable and efficient small backyard birds can be when conditions get tough.