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Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Bushtit (Aegithalidae)

Breeding Location:

Forest, Desert, semi, Scrub vegetation areas



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester



Breeding Population:



Egg Color:

White



Number of Eggs:

5 - 7



Incubation Days:

12



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

Jug-shaped hanging pouch lined with vegetation and often secured by a spider web.



Migration:

Nonmigratory



Splitbar

Overview

Bushtit: Tiny, acrobatic bird with gray-brown upperparts and paler underparts. Eyes are dark brown, bill is tiny, and tail is long. Pacific coast race has brown crown. Rocky Mountain race has gray cap and brown ear patch. South New Mexico/Texas race has black mask, ear patch. Weak fluttering flight.

Range and Habitat

Bushtit: Resident from extreme southwestern British Columbia, southern Idaho, southwestern Wyoming, and the Oklahoma panhandle southward. The preferred habitats include coastal forests among second-growth alder thickets and edges of coniferous forests composed of maple, dogwood, and birch.

Breeding and Nesting

Bushtit: Five to seven white eggs are laid in a hanging, gourd-shaped nest with a side entrance near the top; nest is made of soft plant wool and lichens, and suspended in a bush or tree. Both parents incubate eggs for approximately 12 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Bushtit: Feeds on insects and spiders; also small fruit seeds.

Readily Eats

Suet, Sunflower Seed

Vocalization

Bushtit: Calls of "tsip" and "pit" are constantly uttered. Alarm call is a high trill.

Similar Species

Bushtit: Juniper Titmouse and Oak Titmouse are larger and have head tufts and larger bills. Juvenile Verdin has shorter tail, gray-brown upperparts, and gray-brown wash on its sides.

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Family Bushtit (Aegithalidae)_blue
Species Psaltriparus minimus
Length4.5 Inches
Wingspan7 Inches

Bushtit

Bushtit: Tiny, acrobatic bird with gray-brown upperparts and paler underparts. Eyes are dark brown, bill is tiny, and tail is long. Pacific coast race has brown crown. Rocky Mountain race has gray cap and brown ear patch. South New Mexico/Texas race has black mask, ear patch. Weak fluttering flight.

● Song: "tsip", "pit"

● Foraging & Feeding: Bushtit: Feeds on insects and spiders; also small fruit seeds.

● Breeding & nesting: Bushtit: Five to seven white eggs are laid in a hanging, gourd-shaped nest with a side entrance near the top; nest is made of soft plant wool and lichens, and suspended in a bush or tree. Both parents incubate eggs for approximately 12 days.

● Similar species: Bushtit: Juniper Titmouse and Oak Titmouse are larger and have head tufts and larger bills. Juvenile Verdin has shorter tail, gray-brown upperparts, and gray-brown wash on its sides.

Flight Pattern

Weak fluttering flights of short duration.
Bushtit Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Bushtit: Resident from extreme southwestern British Columbia, southern Idaho, southwestern Wyoming, and the Oklahoma panhandle southward. The preferred habitats include coastal forests among second-growth alder thickets and edges of coniferous forests composed of maple, dogwood, and birch.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
Population
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight0.2 Ounces