Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
- Black cap and throat
- White cheek and nape
- Buff or orangish sides (can be gray in worn birds)
- Brownish gray back
- © Jason Means, WV, Dunbar, September 2008
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
- Brownish gray back
- Wings dark with white edging
- White cheek and nape
- Long, gray tail
- © Mike Powers, NY, Chemung Co, February 2008
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
- Black cap and throat
- Buff or orangish sides (can be gray in worn birds)
- Long, gray tail
- Very short black bill
- © Bill Corwin, WA, January 2009
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
- Buff or orangish sides especially bright in birds on the west coast
- © Seth Reams, OR, Portland, November 2008
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
- Black cap and throat
- White cheek and nape
- Buff or orangish sides
- Wings dark with white edging
- © Jerry Acton
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
- Round body, large head, long tail
- © Bill Shiess
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
- Round body, large head, long tail
- © Maria Corcacas
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
- White cheek and nape
- Wings dark with white edging
- © Laura Erickson, MI, June 2007
Black-capped Chickadee
Adult
- Wings and tail dark gray with white edging
- © birdmandea, WA, Steilacoom, January 2009
Black-capped Chickadee
Nestlings
- Nests in small tree cavities and nest boxes
- © Charles Eldermire, NY, Ithaca, June 2008
Similar Species
Adult
- Ranges overlap in northern U.S. and Canada
- Brown cap
- Gray nape (white cheek not as prominent)
- Browner back, less white edging on wings
- Calls different
- © Laura Erickson, MN, January 2009
Adult
- Brown cap
- Gray nape (white cheek not as prominent)
- Browner back, less white edging on wings
- © Gerry Dewaghe, Manitoba, Canada, June 2007
Adult
- Usually can be separated by range (Black-capped in north U.S., Carolina in south), but overlap in a narrow belt from Nebraska E to New Jersey
- Usually grayer overall, with less orangish on sides
- Often grayer nape
- Less white edging on wings
- Song and calls different
- © Donna Wilson, December 2008
Adult
- Ranges overlap along Pacific coast and northern Rocky Mountains
- Deep chestnut back and flanks
- © BirdieMama, CA, October 2007
Adult male transitional
- Black throat and bib, gray cap
- Reddish brown nape and back
- Gray face and underparts
- Thick bill
- © Donald Metzner, January 2009
Adult
- Distinctive white eyebrow (may be faint in some plumages)
- Very gray overall, no buff on sides
- Very little white edging on wings
- © katnor1, OR, January 2009
Adult
- Very different shape than chickadees, with short tail and long bill
- No black throat
- Back bluish-gray
- © Mike E. Worthington, GA, January 2009