Birdsong field guide
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
A tiny, hyperactive songbird of western North America characterized by its drab plumage and highly social behavior within large, roving flocks.
What it sounds like
A constant, high-pitched twittering of thin 'tsit' and 'psit' notes used to maintain flock cohesion.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
0:00 / 0:47
Field notes
- They construct remarkable, pendulous nests up to a foot long, woven from spiderwebs, moss, and lichen.
- Bushtits exhibit sexual dimorphism in eye color: adult females have pale yellow or white irises, while males have dark eyes.
- This is the only species in the long-tailed tit family (Aegithalidae) found in the Western Hemisphere.
- To conserve heat on cold nights, the entire flock may huddle together in a single communal roost.
- Flocks move in a 'follow-the-leader' fashion, streaming across open gaps one by one rather than all at once.
Habitat
Oak woodlands, scrublands, suburban gardens, and mixed evergreen forests.
Range
Western North America from southern British Columbia through the Western United States to highland Guatemala.
Heard a Bushtit?
Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.
Identify a bird by its song