January Snow
Norwich, CT
USA

IUCN: Listed on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as 'Least Threatened'

Image Story:


It is a cold gloomy winters day at the reservoir near Norwich in Connecticut. The deciduous trees are stark, grey and bare.


Ice has frozen over the water and snow is lightly falling.


Afternoon sun occasionally breaks through the heavy clouds, just momentarily - and this is the moment I was hoping for as I watch this little bird hopping from branch to branch.


It does not stay still for long, as it searches for seeds and other food on the ground.


But at this moment, the transient light catches the light snow flakes and highlighted this pretty little bird from the side.


Tufted Titmice are common through the Eastern half of the US. They are now year-round residents of Connecticut.


However, prior to 1940 these birds didn't live as far north as New England.


They are pushing northwards and are now seen in the northern states of New England, even into southern Maine.


The thinking is that it is primarily to do with people providing winter birdfeeders, climate warming, and the reforestation occurring as farming has decreased here over the last century.


They appear to be a species currently benefiting from climate change.