Bird Guide

Chestnut-backed Chickadee vs Willow Tit

Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Poecile rufescens

Tiny9 gForest

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · McClellan Ranch Preserve, Santa Clara, California, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: (c) Garth Harwood, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Garth Harwood · cc-by
Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

Willow Tit

Poecile montanus

Tiny11 gForest

The 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). It has a large head, a thin bill, a long dull black cap that descends to the mantle and a black bib. The sides of the face are white, the back is grey-brown and the underparts are buff. The sexes are similar in appearance.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Willow Tit
Recorded by Christian Kahle · Uncertain · Schneverdingen, Germany · CC0
Photo: Татьяна Фирсова · CC0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Willow Tit.