Chestnut-backed Chickadee

The Chestnut-backed species is a conifer lover and, true to its name, has a distinctive chestnut-colored back. Its primary range is the Pacific Northwest.

Some say the hotbed of chickadees is the Pacific Northwest, where the Chestnut-backed Chickadee coexists with two other species, the Black-capped Chickadee and the Mountain Chickadee.  The Chestnut-backed species is a conifer lover and, true to its name, has a distinctive chestnut-colored back.  Its primary range is the Pacific Northwest.

Easily recognized, its profile is distinctive:  a chickadee-dee-dee call that is hoarser than the more common Black-capped Chickadee call, black cap and bib, small size, and tame demeanor.  Like all chickadees, the Chestnut-backed prefers sunflower seed and enjoys trips to the suet feeder.  Feeder behavior is also an identifier:  a quick trip to get a seed and then back to the tree to hack it open and devour it.

For much of the year all chickadees live in flocks of five to ten birds.  Flocks protect individuals from predators and make finding food easier.

Their small size (about one-third of an ounce) creates high energy demands during cold weather, forcing them to feed virtually all day long.

Chickadees overnight in old nest cavities, bird houses, and among the branches of
conifers.  These areas can be several degrees warmer than exposed sites, which mean a savings of stored fat.

The next time you have a few minutes out around your feeder, watch these friendly backyard visitors.  Their hearty appetites, wide variety of calls, and complex behavior will fascinate you for hours!