Wyoming · Year-round resident

Bushtits in Wyoming

When bushtits are present in Wyoming, when they nest, which native Wyoming plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.

Long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae)BushtitPsaltriparus minimus

Status in Wyoming: Year-round resident
Nesting window: April–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3a–5b

When to expect bushtits in Wyoming

Bushtits live in Wyoming all year. Cold, very windy winters. 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 and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.

Nesting in Wyoming

Across Wyoming, 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.

Short, warm summers with cool nights.

Bushtits don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, chokecherry, common hackberry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native Wyoming plants that attract bushtits

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

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Common hackberry

Celtis occidentalis · Tree

Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.

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.

Feeding bushtits through the Wyoming year

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

Best foods: Suet.
In Wyoming's winter: Cold, very windy winters.

Full diet breakdown for bushtits · Best feeder for bushtits

Frequently asked

Are bushtits in Wyoming year-round?

Yes. Bushtits are year-round residents in Wyoming.

When do bushtits nest in Wyoming?

Nesting in Wyoming 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 Wyoming?

Bur oak, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Common hackberry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Wyoming that provide food or cover for bushtits.

Bushtits in other regions

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

Other backyard birds in Wyoming

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Red-headed Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-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.