Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 3.5 inches
• Short bill
• Pale gray upperparts
• Whitish underparts
• Long gray tail
• Sexes similar
• Some variation in plumage-coastal birds have brownish crowns, interior birds have brownish cheeks, some birds from near Mexico have black cheeks
• Usually found in flocks

Similar species:

Long tail, short bill and dull plumage make the bushtit unlikely to be confused with any other bird.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.