John,
I have observed a Tufted Titmouse do the same within the past week. None of
the other titmouse (4 or 5 birds) with it fed it and I just presumed that it
was a HY bird who wasn't willing to give up begging its parents for food.
Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co, VA
----- Original Message -----
From: Spahr MD, John
To: shenvalbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2007 4:21 PM
Subject: [Va-bird] Titmouse Fledgling? (Staunton)
This morning I witnessed wing-flicking begging behavior in a titmouse. This
presumed fledgling was traveling with a group of 4 or 5 titmice scurrying about
the trees and utility wires across from my house in Staunton. I did not have
binoculars to check out plumage details; it was full size. As another
titmouse, presumably an adult, approached the wing flicking of this bird became
more intense and rapid and the crest was laid back. I did not see any actual
feeding take place -- a bus drove by and the flock retreated into the trees.
From my limited reading I learned that this species can have two broods per
season. However, even with two broods these activities usually conclude by mid
August. Tufted titmice have a 2 week incubation period and the young leave the
nest in 18-21 days. This suggests that this youngster was hatched in early to
mid October, which seems very, very late to me. Is this a possible 3rd brood
or aberrant behavior by an older juvenile?
John Spahr
Staunton
