Tufted Titmouse in December
Where tufted titmice are in December, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
December in the Tufted Titmouse's year
December is the start of the true winter season. Birds are settled into winter ranges and flocking behavior peaks — mixed flocks move through woods and yards together, and feeding stations become social hubs. Short days mean birds must find most of their food in a few hours of daylight.
For the Tufted Titmouse specifically, December is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 36 states and provinces where tufted titmice occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where tufted titmice are in December
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In December, tufted titmice are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in December
Tufted titmice are not nesting in December. The season runs April–June at mid-latitudes.
That makes December a useful month for nest-box work: cleaning out old nesting material, checking mounts and predator guards, and making repairs while boxes are empty. A box that's ready early gets claimed early.
What to feed in December
- Acorns and beechnuts
- Sunflower, peanuts and suet at feeders
Titmice favor large seeds, carrying them off to hammer open or cache within about 130 ft of the feeder.
Feeders are busiest at dawn and dusk as birds fuel up against long cold nights. Suet and other high-fat foods earn their keep this month.
Full Tufted Titmouse diet guide → · Best feeder for tufted titmice →
Watching tufted titmice this month
Tufted titmice are settled and predictable in December, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
If you have a Tufted Titmouse box up, this is the month to make sure it's clean, secure and ready — the box guide below has the exact hole size and mounting height this species needs.
Tufted Titmouse month by month
Tufted Titmouse by state
Frequently asked
Where are tufted titmice in December?
In December, tufted titmice are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do tufted titmice nest in December?
No — tufted titmice typically nest April through June at mid-latitudes.
What do tufted titmice eat in December?
Acorns and beechnuts; Sunflower, peanuts and suet at feeders.
Sources
- Tufted Titmouse — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Tufted Titmouse life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Tufted Titmouse — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.