Florence Merriam Bailey says: "In Uvalde, Texas, I have seen this little Mexican stranger singing on the ridgepole of a village house. His black crest gave him a jaunty, dressed-up air, but withal he was the same winning, fluffy, domestic little body as the rest of his race. He sang a cheery abbreviation of the Peter Peter of his United States relatives — a Pete-Pete-Pete-Pete."
In the Chisos and Davis Mountains Mr. Bailey found the BLACK-CREST one of the most abundant birds of the upper Sonoran zone, flying about conspicuously among the junipers, nut pines and scrub oaks.
NEST: in cracks or hollows of trees, composed of fine grass, bark strips, feathers, moss and sometimes pieces of snakeskin.
EGGS, 4 to 6, clear white with small chestnut spots sparingly scattered over entire surface.
From southeastern Texas west to El Paso, south into Mexico.
Nest and eggs similar to those of Black-crested Titmouse.
Lower Sonoran zone of central Texas, from Tom Green and Concho counties east to Brazos river, and from Young county south to Nueces and Bee counties.
A low tree 15 to 30 feet with short stout trunk and spreading branches forming a round symmetrical head. Distributed thru western Texas, southern New Mexico and Arizona up to about 5000 feet.