Bushtit in November
Where bushtits are in November, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
November in the Bushtit's year
November settles into the winter pattern. Migration tapers to the last hardy stragglers, winter flocks form and start roaming, and birds map out the reliable food sources in their territory. Cold snaps push sudden rushes of activity to feeders.
For the Bushtit specifically, November is a fall month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 13 states and provinces where bushtits occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where bushtits are in November
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In November, bushtits are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in November
Bushtits are not nesting in November. The season runs March–June at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, bushtits put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in November
- Insect eggs; some suet
Flocks of 10–40 sweep through yards and mob suet feeders for a few minutes before moving on.
Winter flocks are forming their routes now — a feeder kept full from November onward becomes a regular stop.
Watching bushtits this month
Bushtits are settled and predictable in November, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region bushtits are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Bushtit month by month
Bushtit by state
Frequently asked
Where are bushtits in November?
In November, bushtits are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do bushtits nest in November?
No — bushtits typically nest March through June at mid-latitudes.
What do bushtits eat in November?
Insect eggs; some suet.
Sources
- Bushtit — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bushtit life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bushtit — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.