Spot Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)

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Bushtits are tiny, kinglet-sized birds. They are plump and large-headed, with long tails and short, stubby bills. Bushtits are fairly plain brown-and-gray birds. Slightly darker above than below, they have brown-gray heads, gray wings, and tan-gray underparts. Some males have contrasting blackish face masks. Diet and behavioral habits: A common year round resident to Balboa park, these birds can be found near oaks, evergreen woodlands, and dry scrublands. Their diet consists of tiny insects, especially leafhoppers, treehoppers, aphids, scale insects, caterpillars, and beetles, as well as, wasps, ants, and the eggs and pupae of many insects. They also may eat some spiders, berries, and sometimes seeds. Nesting habits: The Bushtit Nest site is in a tree or shrub, 8-35' above the ground, sometimes lower or higher. Nest (built by both sexes) is attached to twigs and branches, a tightly woven hanging pocket, up to a foot long, with an entrance near the top that leads to a narrow passage which opens into nest chamber. Nest is made of spider webs, moss, grass, lichens, leaves, rootlets, and twigs, and lined with plant down, animal hair, and feathers.

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