The Bush-Tits 
clear space inside—not room enough to turn around in, but just sufficient 
protection from the pounce of an Elf Owl. 
From the circumstance that the nests, both winter and breeding, 
are found miles from water, it is inferred that these hardened devotees 
of desolation are quite independent of that supposedly necessary element. 
Literal bug juice may be presumed to supply all the needs of these simple- 
hearted citizens of “dry territory.” 
No. 126 
Bush-Tit 
No. 126 Coast Bush-Tit 
A. O. U. No. 743. Psaltriparus minimus minimus (J. K. Townsend). 
Synonyms.— Least Bush-Tit. Pacific Bush-Tit. 
Description.— Adult in fresh fall plumage: Pileum, broadly, olive-brown, 
shading through drab on sides of head and sides to light drab of underparts; back and 
remaining upperparts, in abrupt contrast to pileum, hair-brown or mouse-gray; the 
remiges and rectrices fuscous, with some paler or ashy edging. Bill and feet dark 
brown; iris light yellow. Adult in worn (spring and summer) plumage: Pileum 
lighter (buffy) brown; back grayer; underparts lighter, almost whitish centrally. 
Young birds are much like adults in spring, but plumage somewhat mottled in appear¬ 
ance, and wing-coverts and rectrices varied by lighter brown. Length about 101.6 
(4.00); wing 47.5 (1.87); tail 52 (2.05); bill 6.9 (.27); tarsus 15.8 (.62). 
Recognition Marks. —Pygmy size; grayish and drab coloration, contrasting 
with warm brownish cap; darker and browner than next. 
Nesting.— Nest: A pendulous pouch 8 or 9 inches in length and 3 or 4 inches in 
diameter at the widest point, with small entrance hole in side near top; an exquisite 
fabrication of mosses, plant-down, and other soft vegetable substances, bound together 
by cobwebs and ornamented externally with lichens, etc.; lined with plant-down and 
feathers; placed at moderate heights in bushes, rarely from 10 to 20 feet up in trees. 
Eggs: 5 to 8, usually 7; dull white. Av. size 13.2 x 10.2 (.52 x .40). Season: April 
-July; two or more broods. 
Range of Psaltriparus minimus .—The Pacific Coast district from southern 
British Columbia to Cape San Lucas, east centrally to the interior of Oregon and in 
northern California to the Nevada line. 
Range of P. m. minimus. —The Pacific Coast strip, narrowly, from southern 
British Columbia to northern Lower California. 
Distribution in California. — Resident in the coastal districts, more broadly 
in the northern and southern portions of its range; thus, east to Tower House, Shasta 
County, and Victorville on the Mohave Desert; inosculating with P. ni. californicus 
along its eastern border and throughout the northern two-thirds of its range. Found 
also on Santa Cruz Island. 
Authorities. — Nuttall ( Partis minimus ), Man. Orn. U. S. and Can., vol. 1, 
628 
