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Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus

Photo by jangstma
Published on Project Noah
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38.5738, -109.546

Field Notes

Description:

Male and young bushtits have dark eyes while females have a pale/yellow iris.

Species ID Suggestions

Gray Jay

Perisoreus canadensis

Reference Link
MrsPbio
1

Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus

Reference Link
bee.jacbs
1

Comments (8)
bee.jacbs
Very cool. Thanks for the update. I've never had the chance to see these guys in person. Thanks for sharing your spotting!
jangstma
They are indeed both Bushtits. Good catch bee.jacbs!
bee.jacbs
Sounds like a great idea jangstma. Let me know what you find out. It was the only bird that seemed to make sense in that area. Definitely a great spotting!
jangstma
Bushtit seems correct to me. I have sent the pictures to the guy who leads my area's Christmas and Spring counts for confirmation.
bee.jacbs
I think it might be a bushtit. The females have pale eyes but the males have dark eyes. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bushtit/id
jangstma
I have added a picture of the bird from behind. It's not much more helpful from what I can see but maybe a more seasoned birder will notice something.
jangstma
I am having a hard time believing the bird is a gray jay because the birds could not have been more than 6 inches (8 max) in length and I know gray jays average at about 11.5 inches. Also, the bird in the first picture is (believe it or not) the same as the birds in the last picture.
MrsPbio
I'm puzzled about that third picture... that bird on the right has yellow eyes. Gray Jays do not. Sooo... this means one of two things... either: 1) if all birds are the same species, then my ID is wrong. 2) That third yellow-eyed bird is a different species. This is gonna keep me awake tonight wondering.... lol

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Birds of the World
Photographed
PublishedApril 3, 2013

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