Poecile rufescens

The Chestnut-Backed Chickadee is a permanent resident of the Pacific Northwest forests, ranging from central California to south central Alaska. (Gilson 1994)

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Resident from south-central and southeastern Alaska to western Alberta, south to southern California and northwestern Montana. Wanders irregularly inland after breeding season. Over the past several decades, range has expanded in the San Francisco Bay area and in the Sierra Nevada; no longer appears to be increasing in the Sierra Nevada, but some populations in the San Francisco Bay area apparently are still increasing (Brennan and Morrison 1991). Planted stands of Monterey pine may have contributed to the range expansion in the San Francisco Bay region (Kleintjes and Dahlsten 1994).

The Chestnut-Backed Chickadee measures 12.5 cm in length with a small body and a long tail. Chestnut-Backed Chickadees have a chestnut colored back and behind, and a black bib with white cheeks.(Pearson 1936) You can identify this chickadee by its call. It is very distinct and has a chipper ring. (Mathews 1967)

Length: 12 cm

Weight: 10 grams

Systems

• Terrestrial

Chestnut-Backed Chickadees make their nest along streams and rivers of the low-elevations of the Pacific Northwest. The nest of these birds are found in mature conifers, but especially in pine, cedar, and hemlock trees. (Fellows)

Terrestrial Biomes: taiga ; forest

Comments: Coniferous and mixed forest, primarily in humid regions, less frequently in pine forest, oak woodland, pine-oak association, and thickets (AOU 1983). Strongly associated with Douglas-fir in most areas (Brennan and Morrison 1991). In California, planted stands of Monterey pine provided significant foraging habitat during the breeding season (Kleintjes and Dahlsten 1994). On British Columbia mainland, characteristic of moist coniferous forests; on Vancouver Island and Queen Charlotte Islands also in deciduous and mixed forests, suburban and rural residential areas (Campbell et al. 1997).

Nests in tree cavities; natural, dug by pair, or old woodpecker hole, usually less than 3 m above ground.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Wanders irregularly inland after breeding season.

The Chestnut-Backed Chickadee is an omnivore. Their diet includes a variety of different seeds, spiders, caterpillars, and many other different insects. It is not uncommon to see this type of bird swinging off the tips of branches in search of insects to consume. ("Infoplease 'Chickadee'" 1994)

Comments: Eats mainly insects gleaned from twigs, branches, and trunks of trees and shrubs; in the breeding season, forages often on outer foliage (needles, leaves, or buds) (Kleintjes and Dahlsten 1994); also eats spiders, some fruit, conifer seeds (Terres 1980).

Often forms flocks of 4-20 individuals during nonbreeding season, often in loose association with other species (juncos, kinglets, nuthatches, etc.). Recent range expansion in the Sierra Nevada was not accompanied by declines in mountain chickadee numbers (Brennan and Morrison 1991).

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 114 months.

Maximum longevity: 9.5 years (wild)

The Chestnut-Backed Chickadee usually nests in trees ranging in size from 3.7 to 12.2 meters high. The nest consists of fur, feathers, moss, and various other materials found in the forest. Each clutch size is between 5 to 7 eggs. The eggs are usually unmarked and have a white color, but some may have a reddish tint with chestnut spotting. (Pearson 1936)

Clutch size is 5-9 (commonly 6-7). Young are tended by both parents. May nest in loose colonies.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There are 11 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 11
Specimens with Barcodes: 11
Species With Barcodes: 1

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Contributor/s

Justification

History

• 2008
  Least Concern
• 2004
  Least Concern

The only factor that may affect the Chestnut-Backed Chickadee is the acid rain polluting the forests of the United States. ("Wildlife Fact-File 'Acid Rain and its Effect on Wildlife'" 1997)

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: no special status

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Management Requirements: See Mitchell (1988) for specifications for the construction and placement of nest boxes.

The Chestnut-Backed Chickadees benefit humans by decreasing the insect population. Also, many people like to build houses for these birds and watch how they live, considering that they are a very social and pleasant bird to have living in a backyard. (Gough 1998)