THE TUFTED TITMOUSE presides at the head of the Paridae Family by right of size and a clear, penetrating voice. I have seen some slowly increase the tempo of their conversation to a point where they seemed almost hypnotized and suddenly shake themselves clear of the charm with quivering wings and body — feathered Chauncey Depews telling an after dinner story and laughing themselves out of the chair at its conclusion — a denoument of which Chauncey was never guilty.
Placing the lips against back of the hand, then inhaling, produces a sound which arouses the protective instinct in many kinds of birds. It probably means SOS to the Titmice for they will come in answer from any distance within earshot and hop around the author with anxious churrings. A few individuals in the rescue group will detect the hoax and change their querulous calls to notes of remonstrance at the trick.
Eastern North America. North to southern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, central Ohio, northern Indiana and Illinois, southern Iowa and northeastern Nebraska. West to eastern edge of Great Plains. South to Gulf coast, south-central Florida, eastern and central Texas. Casual to Connecticut, southern New York, northern Indiana, Illinois and southern Minnesota.