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California Tufted Titmouse Feeds on Sunflower Seeds

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I have some very large Russian sunflowers, seven feet high, with a single head nearly a foot across. The other day a pair of the California Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus inormtus) invaded the place and, sitting on the edges of the great heads, began taking off the florets and then pulling out the seeds, taking nearly all there were from four heads. This they did with great cleverness, crushing the seeds and eating the kernels just as the Russians do, throwing the shells on the ground, and leaving the seeds that contained no kernels. I did not know that this type of bird had such a habit, but since have learned of other birds, including other titmouses and nuthatches, feeding on sunflower seeds when obtainable.

Stanford University, California, August 17, 1925

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