Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)

The Bushtit is a small passerine bird of the long-tailed tit family found in North America. It is one of the smallest passerines in North America. It is a year-round resident of the western United States and highland parts of Mexico, ranging from Vancouver through the Great Basin and the lowlands and foothills of California to southern Mexico and Guatemala. The bushtit is active and gregarious, foraging in feeding flocks containing from 10 to over 40 individuals.

Identification

Adults

Adult male and female bushtits are similar in appearance apart from their eyes. They are plain gray-brown without markings and have a large head, short neck, a long tail and short wings.

Adult Male

The adult male bushtit has a dark eyes.

Adult Female

The adult female bushtit has yellow eyes.

Immature

Immature birds are similar in appearance to adult males with dark eyes. The female's eyes become light within a month of fledging.

Gallery

Male

G.G. Park, San Francisco (2010)

Female

G.G. Park, San Francisco (2010)

Male

Groveland, California (2009)

Related Page Hierarchy

Species

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates, sea squirts)

Class: Aves (birds)

Order: Passeriformes (perching birds)

Family: Aegithalidae (long-tailed tits)

Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)