Bushtits in British Columbia
When bushtits are present in British Columbia, when they nest, which native British Columbia plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–9a yard.
- Status in British Columbia
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–9a
When to expect bushtits in British Columbia
Bushtits live in British Columbia all year. Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insect eggs; some suet.
Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in British Columbia
Across British Columbia, bushtits typically nest from April–June. Nest site: hanging sock-shaped nest of spider silk and moss. Females lay 4–10 eggs, incubate for 12–13 days, and young leave the nest after 14–15 days.
Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.
- Bushtits don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native British Columbia plants that attract bushtits
Of the regional native plants we track for British Columbia, these 8 provide food or cover bushtits use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Feeding bushtits through the British Columbia year
Flocks of 10–40 sweep through yards and mob suet feeders for a few minutes before moving on.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In British Columbia's winter: Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters.
Frequently asked
Are bushtits in British Columbia year-round?
Yes. Bushtits are year-round residents in British Columbia.
When do bushtits nest in British Columbia?
Nesting in British Columbia typically runs April–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–10 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days.
What native plants attract bushtits in British Columbia?
Paper birch, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, Oregon white oak, Douglas fir, White spruce, Tamarack are native plants in British Columbia that provide food or cover for bushtits.
Bushtits in other regions
Other backyard birds in British Columbia
Sources
- Bushtit — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bushtit life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bushtit — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — British Columbia
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.