oh yeah, usually its the same here, but we had a longer snow then usual. also blackbirds tend to eat seeds iirc based on the beaks they have (conical shaped). tho insects are probably on the list of foods they'll eat anyways.
true usually they are, where i live they're are a few flocks that stay year round and they usually rely on the same photoperiods that grass tend to use where i live. they usually start nesting here april to may cause otherwise the eggs will all freeze and die :(

i hope your tufted titmouse stays around! ive personally yet to see one in person