Birds of North AmericaBushtitPsaltriparus minimus
Life, Habitat & Pictures of the Bushtit
Written by; Bruce Di Labio French: Mésange buissonnière This small, non-descript, drab grayish brown bird is the only New World species of the family of long-tailed tits. It occurs in a variety of habitats in western North America, from woody or brushy habitats to lowlands, chaparral, oak forest, pinyon-juniper, pine-oak woods, wooded suburbs and city parks.
The Bushtit feeds mainly on tiny insects including spiders, scale insects, tree and leafhoppers, caterpillars, wasps and ants. It also eats some berries and seeds. The Bushtit is an active forager, making short hops from branch to branch, frequently hanging upside down while probing among pine needles and leaves in search of food.
Pairs form within Bushtit flocks in late January and early February and begin to search for potential nest sites. Paired male and female determine a nest site by attaching and reattaching spider web in various places until enough has been gathered in one place to establish a nest. Using spider webs, moss, grass, lichen, leaves and twigs, the pair build a tightly woven hanging pocket that is firmly attached to a branch. This pocket is up to 30 cm. long and has a small entrance hole at the top which leads to a narrow passage and then to a nest chamber.
Nests are sometimes placed so that the lower part of the nest (where eggs are contained) will fall into direct sunlight. The female lays 5-7 white eggs and are incubated by both parents for 12 days. The young leave the nest two weeks after hatching. They produce two broods per year.
Return Bushtit back to Forest Birds Classic Collection of North American Birds
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