Yes, there’s a bird called the black-throated bushtit. We need to get that out of the way. The most remarkable thing about this bird, though, isn’t its giggle-inducing name, but its striking plumage.
Get your mind out of the gutter.
Yeah, it’s a pretty funny name. But the bird kingdom includes all sorts of tits, boobies, cocks and dickcissels. I don’t know what the deal is with bird names. Here’s a pic of an Andean cock-of-the-rock.
What about this bushtit?
The black-throated bushtit, also known as the black-throated tit (snicker), represents a small family of birds. There are six subspecies that carry the bushtit name.
The birds are striking looking.
The fluffy feathers, orange plumage and big black “grin” on their face bring to mind Philadelphia Flyers mascot/viral sensation/devourer of souls, Gritty. But these little birds are a little less intimidating.
This isn’t your average tit.
These diminutive little birds are generally just a few inches long. They also have tails of an average length. This separates them from their cousin, the appropriately-named long-tailed tit.
You’ll have to go to Asia to see them.
These little birds live throughout the Himalayan region, as well as in India, Vietnam, and Taiwan. They tend to hang out together a lot, and flock together in groups of up to forty in number.
It’s an omnivore.
You’d probably expect a small bird like this to dine on berries and seeds and stuff, which they do. But they’ll also eat smaller insects and spiders that they come across.
This bird is a legend.
There’s something about that face that just stays with you. And that’s to say nothing of their name. What do you think of the black-throated bushtit? Let us know in the comments section!
