American Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)

OTHER NAMES: Bushtit
Latin Etymology: Psaltriparus ("pygmy tit") minimus ("smallest")

Adult female American Bushtit (subspecies P. m. minimus) at Berkeley, Caifornia - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Psaltriparus minimus minimus
Weight: 5-6g  /  Length: 11cm  /  Wingspan: 18cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The sole member of the bushtit family to be found in the Americas, they are gregarious birds that travel in small flocks, and feed on spiders and insects. Their nests are elaborately constructed of moss, lichen, spider-silk and feathers.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Aegithalidae
Genus: Psaltriparis
SUBSPECIES: P. m. saturatus, P. m. minimus, P. m. melanurus, P. m. grindae, P. m. californicus, P. m. plumbeus, P. m. dimorphicus, P. m. iulus, P. m personatus, P. m. melanotis 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found in approximately a triangle between central Texas, California and Washington where habitat is appropriate
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)

OTHER NAMES: Long-tailed Titmouse, Mum Ruffin, Mufflin, Huck-Muck
Latin Etymology: Aegithalos ("tit") caudatus ("tailed")

Adult Long-tailed Tit (subspecies A. c. rosaceus) at Geddington, Northants - March 2010

Featured Subspecies: Aegithalos caudatus rosaceus

Weight: 7-9g  /  Length: 15cm  /  Wingspan: 17-19cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

After the blue tit and great tit, the long tailed tit holds the distinction of being probably the UK's third most visible of the tits. It is however, not strictly speaking, particularly related to the others and is in a separate genus. It is also unlike the "standard" tits in other ways - it is inherently communal and is almost always seem in flocks, ranging from only a few to several dozen, or even potentially more. It also very rarely comes to bird tables, instead to prefer to feed while moving through trees and hedges. It can prove very frustrating to photograph, as it is a very "flitty" bird, but perseverance can get some great results.

Related Species:

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Aegithalidae
Genus: Aegithalos
Subspecies: A. c. caudatus, A. c. rosaceus, A. c. aremoricus, A. c. taiti, A. c. europaeus, A. c. macedonicus, A. c. tauricus, A. c. irbii, A. c. italiae, A. c. siculus, A. c. tephronotus, A. c. major, A. c. alpinus, A. c. passekii, A. c. magnus, A. c. trivirgatus, A. c. kiusiuensis 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common resident (340,000 territories)

 - Birds seen at many locations including Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.        

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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