We have observed supernumerary behavior, where a male bird helps an adult pair care for their nestlings, in 25% of the Bushtit nests we have monitored from 2019-2023 on the Seattle University campus. The written report provides details of our approach and observations, while the five short video clips show helper birds in action.
Reports
Supernumerary Bushtits (Psaltriparus minimus) in Seattle, WA, USA, Rebecca Hartley
Videos
Bushtit Nest with Supernumerary: July 2020, Rebecca Hartley, Sydney Clark, and Selena Perez
Bushtit Nest with Supernumerary: June 2023, Rebecca Hartley, Cecelia Bresee, Masha Cattron, Catherine Gerst, Brooke Milder, Gabe Veltri, and Kainalu Yoshida
Bushtit Nest with Supernumerary: May 2019, Rebecca Hartley, Koryna Boudinot, Celeste Dylla, Selena Perez, and Hannah Samsen
Bushtit Nest with Supernumerary: May 2021, Rebecca Hartley, Faith Chamberlain, Sydney Clark, and Jeni Ronald
Bushtit Nest with Supernumerary: May 2022, Rebecca Hartley, Amelia Berg, Cecelia Bresee, Faith Chamberlain, Sydney Clark, Kellsie Delgado, Catherine Gerst, Brooke Milder, and Gabe Veltri