titmouse

American  

[tit-mous] / ˈtɪtˌmaʊs /

noun

titmice plural

1. any of numerous, widely distributed, small songbirds of the family Paridae, especially of the genus Parus, having soft, thick plumage and a short, stout, conical bill.

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titmouse British  

/ ˈtɪtˌmaʊs /

noun

1. (usually plural) any small active songbird of the family Paridae, esp those of the genus Parus See tit 1

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• titmice
  plural

Etymology

Origin of titmouse

1275–1325; Middle English tit ( e ) mose ( see tit ¹); mose, Old English māse titmouse; cognate with German Meise titmouse, Old Norse meis- in meisingr kind of bird; modern mouse by folk etymology

Example Sentences

They concluded that in agricultural areas, species of greater conservation concern, like the oak titmouse, would see worse outcomes than species of lower concern, like the house sparrow.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 19, 2023

“I am happy when I watch a tufted titmouse, nuthatch or any other bird fly to one of my feeders and chow down on a big fat nut or seed,” wrote Donna McDowell of Gaithersburg.

From Washington Post • Feb. 14, 2023

Last spring, Dr. Pollock was participating in his university’s annual spring bird count when a tufted titmouse caught his eye.

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2021

"I discovered there's an oak titmouse nesting on my back patio," she says.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2020

Between breaths, she said, “I hope you’re not letting what Enoch said bother you. The rest of us believe in you, Jacob. Enoch can be a wrinkle-hearted old titmouse, especially when he’s feeling jealous.”

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs