Bushtit
BushtitBushtitBushtitBushtit

Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Yosemite National Park
194 Verified records at Yosemite National Park
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The American bushtit, or simply bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), is a social songbird belonging to the monotypic genus Psaltriparus. It is one of the smallest passerines in North America and it is the only species in the family Aegithalidae found in the Americas; the other eleven species occur in Eurasia. The American bushtit's distinguishing characteristics are its tiny size, its plump and large head, and its long tail. Its range stretches from Vancouver in Canada, south through the Western United States, via the Great Basin, the lowlands and foothills of California, the highlands of Mexico, to Guatemala. Bushtits usually inhabit mixed open woodlands, which contains oaks and a scrubby chaparral understory. They can also be found residing in gardens and parks. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Bushtit sighting in Yosemite National Park, based on 194 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Yosemite National Park

Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

80–90% · Very likely
Steller's Jay
LC Endemic

Steller's Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta stelleri

70–80% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

70–80% · Very likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

70–80% · Very likely
Mountain Chickadee
LC

Mountain Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile gambeli

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

60–70% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

40–50% · Likely
Red-breasted Nuthatch
LC

Red-breasted Nuthatch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sitta canadensis

40–50% · Likely
Brown Creeper
LC

Brown Creeper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Certhia americana

40–50% · Likely
Brewer's Blackbird
NT

Brewer's Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

40–50% · Likely
Western Wood-Pewee
LC Endemic

Western Wood-Pewee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Contopus sordidulus

40–50% · Likely
Western Tanager
LC

Western Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga ludoviciana

30–40% · Possible

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
5–10
Apr
5–10
May
<5
Jun
5–10
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
10–20
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
2 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
3 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
4 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
5 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
6 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
7 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
8 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
9 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
10 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
11 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
12 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
14 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
15 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
16 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Bushtit in Yosemite National Park?

About 6% of wildlife watchers report a Bushtit sighting in Yosemite National Park, based on 194 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Bushtit in Yosemite National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Bushtit in Yosemite National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Yosemite National Park