Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus

Bushtits live across much of western Nor… Look for Bushtits in brushy places: chap… Common High, thin twittering

Learn to identify the Bushtit by ear. Master the "tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee”

What the Bushtit sounds like

A tiny, smoky-gray bird with a surprisingly long tail, the Bushtit moves through shrubs like a drifting puffball. It rarely sits still, traveling in chatty flocks that hang upside down and pick through leaves with nonstop energy.

“tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:The Bushtit's song is a light string of tiny squeaky notes. It sounds delicate and busy, like a flock chatting in whispers from inside a shrub. Often written as “tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee”.

Don't confuse with:The Verdin — verdin has a shorter tail and a sharper, more pointed bill.

Where you'll hear it

Look for Bushtits in brushy places: chaparral, oak scrub, pinyon-juniper, open woodland, and leafy suburbs. They love thickets, hedges, and tangles where small insects hide.

You can find them in every season, usually in restless flocks that sweep through brush like a soft wave. In spring, watch for their remarkable hanging nests swaying from a branch tip.

Similar species

Verdin

Verdin has a shorter tail and a sharper, more pointed bill.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Kinglets have a broken white eye ring and two pale wingbars; Bushtits look much plainer.

Oak Titmouse

Oak Titmouse is larger, with a noticeable crest and a thicker bill.

Bushtit song FAQ

What does a Bushtit sound like?

The Bushtit's song is a light string of tiny squeaky notes. It sounds delicate and busy, like a flock chatting in whispers from inside a shrub. Listen for the "tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee" phrase.

How do I tell a Bushtit from a Verdin by sound?

Verdin: Verdin has a shorter tail and a sharper, more pointed bill.; Adults show a yellow head and a chestnut shoulder, unlike the plain gray-brown Bushtit.; Verdins are usually seen singly or in pairs, not in bouncing little flocks..

When is the best time to hear a Bushtit?

You can find them in every season, usually in restless flocks that sweep through brush like a soft wave. In spring, watch for their remarkable hanging nests swaying from a branch tip.