Bird Guide

American Bushtit vs Long-tailed Tit

American Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)

American Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus

Tiny5 gWoodland

With a length of 100–110 mm (3.9–4.3 in) and a weight of 4.5–6 g (0.16–0.21 oz), the American bushtit is one of the smallest passerines in North America. It is mostly gray-brown, with a large head, short neck, long tail, and small, stubby beak. American bushtits have different characteristics based on their sex and habitats. The male has dark brown to black eyes while the adult female has yellow eyes.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Alex Critch · CC BY 2.0
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)

Long-tailed Tit

Aegithalos caudatus

Tiny9 gForest

This species has been described as a tiny (at only 13–15 cm (5–6 in) in length, including its 7–9 cm (3–3+1⁄2 in) tail), round-bodied tit-like bird with a short, stubby bill and a very long, narrow tail. The sexes look the same and young birds undergo a complete moult to adult plumage before the first winter. The plumage is mainly black and white, with variable amounts of grey and pink. Voice: This species is often identified in the field through hearing its distinctive vocalisations. When they are in flocks, they issue constant contact calls, so they are often heard before they are seen. They have three main calls, a single high pitched pit, a 'triple trill' eez-eez-eez, and a rattling schnuur.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0
Photo: John Ashburner · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: American Bushtit and Long-tailed Tit.