New Mexico · Year-round resident

Bushtits in New Mexico

When bushtits are present in New Mexico, when they nest, which native New Mexico plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–9a yard.

Long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae)BushtitPsaltriparus minimus

Status in New Mexico: Year-round resident
Nesting window: March–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4b–9a

When to expect bushtits in New Mexico

Bushtits live in New Mexico all year. Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insect eggs; some suet.

Arid to semi-arid, with Chihuahuan desert in the south and mountain forest above 7,000 ft.

Nesting in New Mexico

Across New Mexico, 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 early summer followed by the July–August monsoon.

Bushtits don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as black cherry, american elderberry, chokecherry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native New Mexico plants that attract bushtits

Of the regional native plants we track for New Mexico, these 8 provide food or cover bushtits use:

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Gambel oak

Quercus gambelii · Tree

Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Hackberry (desert)

Celtis pallida · Shrub

Thorny cover with orange fruit favored by thrashers and cardinals.

Feeding bushtits through the New Mexico year

Flocks of 10–40 sweep through yards and mob suet feeders for a few minutes before moving on.

Best foods: Suet.
In New Mexico's winter: Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations.

Full diet breakdown for bushtits · Best feeder for bushtits

Frequently asked

Are bushtits in New Mexico year-round?

Yes. Bushtits are year-round residents in New Mexico.

When do bushtits nest in New Mexico?

Nesting in New Mexico 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 New Mexico?

Black cherry, American elderberry, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Hackberry (desert) are native plants in New Mexico that provide food or cover for bushtits.

Bushtits in other regions

Arizona British Columbia California Colorado Idaho Nevada Oklahoma Oregon Texas Utah Washington Wyoming

Other backyard birds in New Mexico

Northern Cardinal Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Mountain Chickadee Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Gambel's Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Black Phoebe Gila Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Cactus Wren Curve-billed Thrasher Verdin Pyrrhuloxia Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove White-winged Dove Inca Dove

Sources

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.