People sometimes mistake the Tufted Titmouse for a “baby Blue Jay,” and it’s understandable. It’s petite, bluish, and has a pointed crown. But a titmouse is more closely related to the Black-capped Chickadee and is one of the smaller birds to stick around during colder months. It fancies sunflower seeds and will visit a feeder and fly off with one seed in its mouth to devour elsewhere. Then it swoops in and repeats the behavior until it has had its fill. But what about that name? The Tufted Titmouse’s name derives from the Old English words “tit” and “mase,” basically meaning “small bird.” Photo by Steve Fisher.