Bushtits in Idaho
When bushtits are present in Idaho, when they nest, which native Idaho plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in Idaho
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect bushtits in Idaho
Bushtits live in Idaho all year. Cold winters with inversions in the valleys; mountain finches and Bohemian Waxwings move into towns. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insect eggs; some suet.
Semi-arid sagebrush plains along the Snake River and forested mountains to the north and center.
Nesting in Idaho
Across Idaho, 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.
Hot, dry summers in the Snake River Plain and cool mountain summers.
- Bushtits don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, common hackberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Idaho plants that attract bushtits
Of the regional native plants we track for Idaho, these 8 provide food or cover bushtits use:
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
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 Idaho year
Flocks of 10–40 sweep through yards and mob suet feeders for a few minutes before moving on.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In Idaho's winter: Cold winters with inversions in the valleys; mountain finches and Bohemian Waxwings move into towns.
Frequently asked
Are bushtits in Idaho year-round?
Yes. Bushtits are year-round residents in Idaho.
When do bushtits nest in Idaho?
Nesting in Idaho 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 Idaho?
Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Common hackberry, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Idaho that provide food or cover for bushtits.
Bushtits in other regions
Other backyard birds in Idaho
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 — Idaho
- 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.