North American field guide
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
Also known as:Black-eared Bushtit
Identification
Field notes
11 cm (4-5") Common. Western United States, southwestern British Columbia. Oak scrub, mixed woodlands, chaparral, pinyon, juniper, parks, gardens.
Very small nondescript bird. Gray above, paler below. Some southwestern birds have a black patch on the face and were once considered a separate species called Black-eared Bushtit.
Feed in large, busy, twittering flocks.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Bushtit Nest Building
Credit: Paul MariottiniBushtit Nest - 30 days later.
Credit: Paul MariottiniWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 3 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Bushtit
3 rulesRule 1 14 criteria · confidence 7
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
- None · Unknown
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour were the CHEEKS ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird) · Woodpecker or Tree-clinging bird
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States
Rule 2 6 criteria · confidence 6
- Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?
- No
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?
- Foraging by hanging upside down
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Identify from a Unique Behaviour
- What type of environment was the bird seen in?
- Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northwestern Canada or United States
Rule 3 6 criteria · confidence 6
- Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?
- No
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?
- Foraging by hanging upside down
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Identify from a Unique Behaviour
- What type of environment was the bird seen in?
- Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States