A tiny grayish-brown songbird that travels in chattering flocks of 30+ individuals. Builds spectacular hanging gourd-shaped nests of plant fibers and spider silk.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The American bushtit, or simply bushtit, is a social songbird belonging to the monotypic genus Psaltriparus. It is one of the smallest passerines in North America and it is the only species in the family Aegithalidae found in the Americas; the other eleven species occur in Eurasia.
Source: Wikipedia — American bushtit Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Minuscule, plain gray-brown bird with a long tail, a stubby bill, and a plain face; interior males have dark eyes, females and juveniles pale eyes.
Similar species. Kinglets and gnatcatchers are similar in size but show wing bars or bolder face patterns; the Bushtit is plain and travels in flocks.
Voice. Constant soft, high 'tsit' and 'pit' contact notes from the moving flock.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects, seeds, occasional fruits; caches food in fall.
Behavior. A tiny, hyperactive flock-bird of western scrub and oak woodland that moves through vegetation in chattering bands of 10–40, weaving an elaborate hanging sock-shaped nest.
§ Range
Western US, Mexico
§ Habitat
Oak woodlands, chaparral, suburban gardens
§ Threats
Habitat loss to development, climate change.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the bushtit is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant native oak woodland plants. Skip pesticides.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — American bushtit
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Psaltriparus minimus
- IUCN Red List — search for Psaltriparus minimus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Psaltriparus minimus
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
