Bushtits in Utah
When bushtits are present in Utah, when they nest, which native Utah plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.
- Status in Utah
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
When to expect bushtits in Utah
Bushtits live in Utah all year. Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insect eggs; some suet.
Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.
Nesting in Utah
Across Utah, 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.
- 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 Utah plants that attract bushtits
Of the regional native plants we track for Utah, these 8 provide food or cover bushtits use:
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.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Feeding bushtits through the Utah year
Flocks of 10–40 sweep through yards and mob suet feeders for a few minutes before moving on.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In Utah's winter: Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards.
Frequently asked
Are bushtits in Utah year-round?
Yes. Bushtits are year-round residents in Utah.
When do bushtits nest in Utah?
Nesting in Utah 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 Utah?
Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch are native plants in Utah that provide food or cover for bushtits.
Bushtits in other regions
Other backyard birds in Utah
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 — Utah
- 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.