Bushtit facts for kids
The Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) is a tiny bird with a long tail. It belongs to a family of birds called long-tailed tits. You can find Bushtits in North America. It is the only bird from its family that lives in the Americas. It is also the only member of its specific group, called Psaltriparus.
Bushtits live in open woodlands where different types of trees grow. They also like parks and gardens. They stay all year in the Western United States and the high areas of Mexico. Their home range stretches from Vancouver in the north, through the Great Basin, and down to the lowlands and hills of California, reaching southern Mexico and Guatemala.
The Bushtit is one of the smallest passerines, or songbirds, in North America. It is about 11 cm long and weighs only 5.3 grams. It is mostly gray-brown. It has a large head, a short neck, a long tail, and a small, stubby beak. Male Bushtits have dark eyes, while adult females have yellow eyes.
Bushtits are very active and social birds. They often search for small insects and spiders in large groups. These groups can include other birds like chickadees and warblers. A group can have from 10 to over 40 birds. Members of the group constantly make short tsit calls to stay in touch with each other.
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Where Bushtits Live
All birds in the Bushtit family live in forests. They especially like the edges of forests and the bushy areas under taller trees. Most species in this family live in mountains around the Himalayas. However, the American Bushtit lives in western North America.
The Bushtit can live in many different places. This includes sagebrush and other dry, shrubby areas. But they are most often found in woodlands with mixed trees. Most birds in this family do not migrate, meaning they do not fly far away for winter. Some mountain species move to lower areas when it gets cold.
What Bushtits Look Like
Bushtits are small birds. They are about 9 to 14 cm long, including their long tail. They weigh only 4.5 to 9 grams. Their feathers are usually dull gray or brown. Some species have white markings. The long-tailed tit has some pink colors.
Their bills are tiny, short, and cone-shaped. Their wings are short and rounded. Their legs are quite long.
Bushtit Behavior
Birds in the Bushtit family live in groups. These groups can have from 4 to 50 birds. Flocks form after one breeding season ends. They stay together until the next breeding season begins. They keep in touch by making "churring" calls. Their songs are usually quiet. Other types of birds, like tits or warblers, sometimes join these groups to find food.
What Bushtits Eat
Bushtits are omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. They mainly eat insects and other small creatures without backbones. These include leafhoppers, treehoppers, aphids, and caterpillars. Sometimes, in winter, they will also eat plant material like berries or seeds.
Bushtits usually look for food in trees. They often search in the lower branches or the tops of trees. They rarely go to the ground. They pick insects off branches, leaves, and buds. Less often, they catch insects while flying. When they are looking for food, these quick birds might hang upside down on branches. They can even move branches and leaves to find hidden food.
Bushtit Reproduction
Bushtits usually have one mate for life. Sometimes, other related birds help the main pair raise their young. This has been seen in at least four species. More research is needed to see if this happens with other members of the family.
Bushtits build dome-shaped, bag-like nests. They weave them from cobwebs and lichen. They line the inside with soft feathers. They build their nests in trees with lots of leaves. This makes it hard for predators to find them. A female Bushtit lays 6 to 10 white eggs. Many species have red speckles on their eggs.
Adults sit on the eggs for 13 to 14 days to keep them warm. The young birds stay in the nest for 16 to 17 days after hatching. In at least four species, only the female bird sits on the eggs. Young chicks are fed only insects and spiders.
See also
In Spanish: Aegithalidae para niños
