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Mountain Chickadee Identification

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The Four Keys to ID

  • Size & Shape

    Tiny, large-headed but small-billed, with a long, narrow tail and full, rounded wings.

    Relative Size

    Same size as Black-capped Chickadee.

    Relative Sizesparrow or smallersparrow-sized or smaller

    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
      • Weight: 0.4 oz (11 g)

Regional Differences

Mountain Chickadees of the Rocky Mountains tend to have short, blunt bills and buffy flanks. In the Great Basin the bill is longer, thinner, and more pointed. Birds in the Sierra Nevada and Cascades have the largest bills, and their flanks match their back color.