The Black-Throated Bushtit, A Bird With A Strange Name And Wonderful Colors
The black-throated bushtit may have a strange name, but its colors are what really stop you in your tracks. This tiny bird, only about 10.5 centimeters long and weighing just a few grams, stands out with vivid plumage that looks almost too bright to be real.
Thanks to Taiwanese wildlife photographer Chen Chengguang, those colors are on full display here. His bird photography captures the species in sharp detail, from its black throat and eye mask to the flashes of color that make it so memorable.
We gathered some of the best images of this striking little bird, and the results are hard to ignore.
1.
2.
3.
The black-throated bushtit can have different plumage, but all varieties feature a medium-length tail, while their relatives, the long-tailed tits, have longer tails. It also has a black throat and a black mask around its eyes.
4.
5.
These birds inhabit a vast area in Asia, including the foothills of the Himalayas, northern India, northeastern Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, northern Myanmar, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Some isolated populations have also been identified in southern Vietnam, Hainan Island, and northern China up to the Yellow River.
They are easy to spot once you know what to look for.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Black-throated bushtits typically live in open broadleaved and pine forests. They are known to be highly social and often travel in large groups of up to 40 birds.
For more color-blasting forest finds, see Vinícius Kohn’s stunning Brazil bird photography.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
The black-throated bushtit's diet consists mainly of insects, small seeds, and fruits, with a particular fondness for raspberries.
That sweet tooth makes the bird even more interesting.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
What a remarkable little bird.
Want another striking mask moment, like the black-and-white coat and red head on this cardinal?
Share this article:
