Black-throated Bushtit
Aegithalos concinnus
The Black-throated Bushtit is one of the smallest and most endearing songbirds of the Kumaon hills, immediately recognizable by its tiny size, long tail, warm rufous crown, and distinct black bib.
Species Ecological Profile
Sourced from high-confidence eBird and regional field surveys
Deciduous and mixed oak-pine temperate woodlands, terraced agricultural edges, and shrubby valleys. Prefers lower-to-middle canopy levels between 1,500m and 2,200m altitude.
Primarily insectivorous. Forages actively and restlessly on small insects, spiders, scale insects, insect eggs, and occasional tiny seeds and berries. Moves in fast-moving, energetic flocks.
Resident species showing minor altitudinal movements. During the coldest winter months (November to February), flocks descend to lower valleys and wooded foothills to escape severe freezes.
March to May. Constructs an extraordinarily intricate, hanging, pear-shaped pouch nest made of green moss, hair, and woolly plant fibers, bound tightly with cobwebs and decorated with lichens.
Highly active flocks of 15 to 30 birds are regularly observed flitting through low oak branches, garden hedges, and wild shrubbery along the Naukuchiatal walking trail and nearby villages.
Photographic Log
Visual field records captured in Naukuchiatal (Click to enlarge)
