Bird · GBIF taxon 2494988
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimusAlso known as American Bushtit, Common Bushtit
Bushtits are highly social, tiny songbirds that travel through trees and shrubs in restless feeding flocks of a dozen or more. They construct remarkable woven nests that hang like long, sock-like gourds from tree branches, crafted from moss, spiderwebs, and lichen. During winter, these energetic insectivores huddle together in tight rows on branches to conserve precious body heat.
SocialTinyInsectivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aphids
- Caterpillars
- Scale Insects
Predators
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Cooper's Hawk
- Domestic Cat
ThreatsHabitat loss, outdoor domestic cats, and severe winter storms
HabitatsOak woodlands, chaparral, mixed forests, suburban parks, and gardens
Life span3–5 years
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyAegithalidae
- GenusPsaltriparus
- SpeciesPsaltriparus minimus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Calls: Track flocks by listening for soft, high-pitched contact calls in dense brush.
- Provide Cover: Plant dense native shrubs like ceanothus or oaks to attract winter foraging groups.
- Watch the Nest: Look for hanging, sock-like woven nests attached to outer branch tips in spring.
Frequent Companion No machine-readable author provided. Mdf assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) Garth Harwood, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Garth Harwood · cc-by
Competitor Alan Vernon / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) caroline legg, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.