Similar Species
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
Black-capped Chickadees are slightly larger than Bushtits, and their characteristic dark crown, white face, and dark bib provide much more contrast than Bushtits show.
© Scott Martin | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 03, 2017Similar Species
Mountain Chickadee
Adult
Mountain Chickadees are plumper than Bushtits with a white cheek patch that Bushtits lack.
© Craig Johnson | Macaulay LibraryIdaho, May 20, 2017Similar Species
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Adult
Chestnut-backed Chickadees have chestnut backs and sides unlike the plain grayish brown Bushtit.
© Neill Vanhinsberg | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 25, 2017Similar Species
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Female/nonbreeding male
Gnatcatchers have longer bills and smaller heads than Bushtits. Their black tails contrast sharply with their duller gray-brown backs unlike Bushtits.
© Peter Hawrylyshyn | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, June 09, 2017Similar Species
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Adult male
Golden-crowned Kinglets have olive upperparts and boldly marked heads, whereas Bushtits are rather plain-faced.
© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 05, 2016Similar Species
Oak Titmouse
Adult/immature
Oak Titmice are larger than Bushtits with a distinct, short crest to the head.
© Ken Chamberlain | Macaulay LibraryOregon, March 14, 2017Similar Species
Juniper Titmouse
Adult/immature
Juniper Titmice have a crest unlike the round-headed Bushtit. They are also larger with a thicker bill than Bushtits.
© Taylor Abbott | Macaulay LibraryUtah, April 22, 2017Similar Species
Verdin
Adult
Verdins have a longer, sharper bill than Bushtits. They also have a yellow face and a small rufous patch in the wing that Verdins lack.
© Michael O'Brien | Macaulay LibraryBaja California Sur, March 07, 2009Main Species
Bushtit
Male (Pacific)
Tiny, kinglet-sized birds. They are plump and large-headed, with a long tail and a short, stubby bill. Plain brown and gray overall, but plumage color varies geographically.
© Caroline Lambert | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 28, 2016Male (Interior)
Tiny with a long tail and short bill. Individuals in the interior are paler gray and have gray crowns with tan cheeks while those closer to the coast have brown crowns.
© Darren Clark | Macaulay LibraryIdaho, March 13, 2017Male
Nervously flits around from branch to branch in the understory of oak forests, evergreen woodlands, dry scrublands, streamsides, and suburbs.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 01, 1997Male (melanotis Group)
Males in southwest Texas southward through Mexico have black masks and females have brown masks. The mask color tends to get darker as one moves farther south.
© Cory Gregory | Macaulay LibraryOaxaca, February 15, 2017Female (Pacific)
Tiny bird that looks like a ping-pong ball with a long tail. Females have pale eyes while males and juveniles have dark eyes.
© James Cummins | Macaulay LibraryWashington, March 20, 2017Adult
Males and females help build a hanging socklike nest made from spider webs and plant material.
© Larry Arbanas | Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 2006Female (Interior)
Individuals in the interior have grayer crowns and brown cheeks. Females have pale eyes while males and juveniles have dark eyes.
© Eric Gofreed | Macaulay LibraryArizona, December 28, 2016Female (melanotis Group)
Females in southwest Texas southward through Mexico have brown masks while males have black masks, the color of which become darker as one heads farther south.
© manuel grosselet | Macaulay LibraryOaxaca, December 23, 2016Adult and juvenile
Parents feed fledglings for up to 2 weeks after they leave the nest.
© Larry Arbanas | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 01, 2005Male (Pacific)
Tiny, kinglet-sized bird with a long tail and short bill. Almost always on the move twittering as it goes. Birds along the coast have browner crowns.
© Matt Davis | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 26, 2017Flock
Sprightly, social songbirds often seen in constantly twittering flocks. Occasionally visits suet feeders.
© Greg Gillson | Macaulay LibraryOregon, December 08, 2011Habitat
Found in open woods or scrubby areas, particularly pine-oak woodlands and chaparral, as well as suburbs and parks.
© Taylor Abbott | Macaulay LibraryUtah, May 06, 2017