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ForestCavity nestTiny · 9 g
What the Chestnut-backed Chickadee sounds like
ID tip
It is a small chickadee, 11.5–12.5 cm (4.5–4.9 in) long with a weight of 8.5–12.6 g (0.30–0.44 oz). The head is dark blackish-brown with white cheeks, the mantle is bright rufous-brown, the wing feathers are dark gray with paler fringes. The underparts are white to pale grayish-white, with rufous or pale gray flanks. It is often considered the most vibrant of all chickadees. Joseph Grinnell was one of the first to provide a significantly detailed description of this variation. Voice: Chestnut-backed chickadees can be identified by their “chick-a-dee” call, with “dee” repeated a few times. Adults and older nestlings can also be identified by their hissing noise, which mimics a snake while protecting their nests. They rarely use their “gargle” calls.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Chestnut-backed Chickadee
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Chestnut-backed Chickadee
The map shades 2 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Chestnut-backed Chickadee
The chestnut-backed chickadee is a small passerine bird in the tit family, native to western North America.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Mountain ChickadeePoecile gambeliAdults of both sexes have a black cap joining a black postocular stripe behind distinctive white eyebrows.
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisThe nominate subspecies has a black cap and nape with a blue sheen visible at close quarters.
Willow TitPoecile montanusThe willow tit is 11.5 cm (4.5 in) in length, has a wingspan of 17–20.5 cm (6.7–8.1 in) and weighs around 11 g (0.39 oz).
Side by side: Black-capped Chickadee vs Chestnut-backed Chickadee · Carolina Chickadee vs Chestnut-backed Chickadee · Chestnut-backed Chickadee vs Mountain Chickadee · Chestnut-backed Chickadee vs Marsh Tit · Chestnut-backed Chickadee vs Willow Tit
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