Bushtits in Colorado
When bushtits are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect bushtits in Colorado
Bushtits live in Colorado all year. Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insect eggs; some suet.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, bushtits typically nest from March–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.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Bushtits don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, ponderosa pine, gambel oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Colorado plants that attract bushtits
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover bushtits use:
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding bushtits through the Colorado year
Flocks of 10–40 sweep through yards and mob suet feeders for a few minutes before moving on.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In Colorado's winter: Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.
Frequently asked
Are bushtits in Colorado year-round?
Yes. Bushtits are year-round residents in Colorado.
When do bushtits nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs March–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–10 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days.
What native plants attract bushtits in Colorado?
New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for bushtits.
Bushtits in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
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 — Colorado
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.