Bridled Titmouse

Baeolophus wollweberi

The normal range that we find these birds is central to southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and southward into Old Mexico. Like its cousins the Oak and the Juniper Titmouse, this bird enjoys oak and juniper woodlands and sometimes riparian areas.

We often find the Bridled Titmouse in communal groups. It is common for these extended family members to assist with the nesting duties.

As with its cousins, the range for the Bridled Titmouse does not change with the seasons. They are resident wherever we find them. Our bird lives mostly in Mexican highlands, but they also live on the sky islands of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.

Information collected by banding shows these birds may live to six or seven years of age.

Today’s science recognises four subspecies of Bridled Titmouse:

• B. w. vandevenderi is resident in central Arizona north of the Gila River.
• B. w. phillipsi lives in Arizona south of the Gila River.
• B. w. wollweberi lives in northern Mexico.
• B. w. caliginosus lives in southern Mexico.

Prior to 2015, I’d never met the Bridled Titmouse, but a trip through Arizona that year provided me with some lovely encounters in the Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains. I can still recall my impressions of these dashing little warriors of the wooded slopes and canyons. Being more familiar with the Oak Titmouse I find daily near my southern California home, the contrast between the birds formerly called the Plain Titmouse, and this bridled bird was eye-opening. Despite the outward differences, I found their personalities to be similar.