Chestnut-backed Chickadees

By Charlie • February 23, 2009 • 8 comments

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens (formerly Parus rufescens) is commonly found from southern Alaska, the Pacific Northwest of the United States and western Canada (the nominate form P. r. rufescens) to southwestern California. It is a permanent resident within its range, but birds sometimes fly short distances in winter when their food supply gets low.

Small even for a chickadee at 11.5–12.5 cm long with a weight of 8.5–12.6 g, 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 (the southernmost form P. r. barlowi) flanks.

These birds were photographed in February in Vancouver’s beautiful Stanley park, where they are easy to find (especially wherever there are people giving out seeds or nuts) and are well-habituated to visitors. Typically Chestnut-backed Chickadees are found in mixed flocks and these birds were feeding with Black-capped Chickadees P. atricillus, ‘Sooty’ Fox Sparrows Passerella (iliaca) unalaschcensis, Dark-eyed Juncos Junco hyemalis oreganus and Spotted Towhees Pipilo maculatus - which for a UK-based birder (even one who travels a great deal) is an exciting assemblage!

chestnut-backed chickadee

All photos copyright Charlie Moores 2009

Tags: chickadees and tits, features, stanley park, vancouver

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About the Author

Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

8 Responses to “Chestnut-backed Chickadees”

Nick Feb 23rd, 2009 at 7:43 am

So cute. My favorite North American chickadee that I have not seen.
Karen of morningjoy Feb 23rd, 2009 at 8:50 am

What beautiful images of this little bird. I grew up in Michigan where we had lots of chickadees visit our winter feeder, but I’ve never seen a Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Thanks to your blog, now I have!
Yard list: Dinky Dudes of the Desert | Three Star Owl - Functional and Sculptural Clay Artwork with a Natural History Feb 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 am

[...] or nesting fluff (white dog hair, good!). And in Berkeley and Santa Cruz, we’d encountered Chestnut-backed Chickadees frequently. So when we got to Phoenix it seemed strange to not have “dees” about the [...]
Jochen Feb 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am

I have never seen photos of it. That coppery sheen on the cap is very remarkable, or is it just the light?

P.S. Charlie, please send me a quick email so I have your adress again and WILL ANSWER (you do seem to change email adresses once in a while)
Gunnar Engblom Feb 23rd, 2009 at 1:19 pm

My God! It is a Coal Tit with color!
Beautiful bird!.
Want it!
Can we get it feral in Lima, please?
Promise to feed it!
Would fit in very well among the Saffron Finches, the Canary-winged Parakeets and the Blue-gray Tanagers.
getaway traveler Feb 25th, 2009 at 1:20 pm

Great specimen! We have many Chickadees here in Hocking Hills but haven’t seen these yet. Because there are so plentiful, I don’t pay them too much mind. I will start paying closer attention.
Con Daily Feb 26th, 2009 at 10:21 am

Great photos! I don’t think I’ve seen this bird before. It’s lovely and obviously very friendly!
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