Whatbird.com

This small gray bird was photographed in a Valley Oak tree near a stream in Northern California at Butte College.Very plain, small, and I really did not get a great look at him.Truthfully, this has been a very frustrating bird to ID. I really have no clue. Any help? Perhaps a Wrentit ( I also thought perhaps Townsend Solitaire or even Bushtit.

Why "Even" a bushtit? Looks like that or a wrentit. Bushtits are very active and lively, while wrentit tends to be secretive. Which one was your bird's behavior like?

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"You can cage a bird, but you cannot make him sing."
Andy

Definitely either Bushtit or Wrentit. I would say Bushtit but I have never seen either so I don't really have any experience with them.

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2008 Yard List: 118
Recent: Hooded Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo
Highlights: Hoary Redpoll, Golden Eagle, Fish Crow
2008 Year List: 181
Recent: Alder Flycatcher, Green Heron
Highlights: Cackling Goose, Black Vulture, Merlin

I think Bushtit for two reasons: Wrentits prefer low growing bushes to trees and in the field the few Wrentits that I've seen appear more pinkish on their breast.

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Spem longam reseces. Dum loquimur, fugit invidia aetas. Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero. - Horace

I see Bushtits almost daily, and that's what this looks like. As a previous poster pointed out, it would be rare for the super secretive Wrentit to be up in an exposed branch as they really do prefer dense cover. The photo is a tad blurry but this looks like a Bushtit to me...

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Dan Kopp
Sacramento

Many dreams come true, and some have silver linings; I live for my dream and a pocketful of gold...

I agree with Bushtit.