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Tits and Chickadees (Paridae)

Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) - HBW 12, p. 729

French: Mésange unicolore German: Schlichtmeise Spanish: Herrerillo Unicolor
Other common names: Plain Titmouse (when treated as conspecific with B. ridgwayi)

Taxonomy: Parus inornatus Gambel, 1845, near Monterey, California, USA.
Until recently present genus normally subsumed into a broad Parus, and many authors still prefer that treatment. Forms a superspecies with B. ridgwayi, B. bicolor and B. atricristatus; until recently treated as conspecific with B. ridgwayi, but differs in morphology and voice. Nominate race and affabilis intergrade in SW California (USA). Race mohavensis sometimes merged with latter. Other proposed races, all in USA, include sequestratus (SW Oregon and NW California) and kernensis (drainage basin of R Kern and adjacent E slopes of.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Parus inornatus Gambel, 1845, near Monterey, California, USA.
Until recently present genus normally subsumed into a broad Parus, and many authors still prefer that treatment. Forms a superspecies with B. ridgwayi, B. bicolor and B. atricristatus; until recently treated as conspecific with B. ridgwayi, but differs in morphology and voice. Nominate race and affabilis intergrade in SW California (USA). Race mohavensis sometimes merged with latter. Other proposed races, all in USA, include sequestratus (SW Oregon and NW California) and kernensis (drainage basin of R Kern and adjacent E slopes of Sierra Nevada, in California), both synonymized with nominate, and transpositus (SW California W of the deserts), merged with affabilis. Four subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • inornatus (Gambel, 1845) - SW USA (SW Oregon S to SW & SC California).
  • affabilis Grinnell & Swarth, 1926 - SW California and extreme NW Mexico (N Baja California).
  • mohavensis (A. H. Miller, 1946) - SE California (Little San Bernardino Mts).
  • cineraceus (Ridgway, 1883) - W Mexico (S Baja California).

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