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Chestnut-backed
Chickadee
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
Species: rufescens
La. passer sparrow
small bird
La. forma form, kind, species
La. parum too little
La. parus titmouse, tomtit
Gr. poecile painted
La. rufus red
La. escens approaching |
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| About four inches long. Dark brown crown,
rich dark chestnut back, sides and flanks. Black throat and white sides of neck and
underside. Grayish rusty wings. Gray tail edged with white. Inhabits
coniferous and mixed forests in western and coastal areas from California to Alaska.
Builds nests of fine grass, feathers, plant fiber, hair and fur in
abandoned or natural tree cavities or ones they excavate themselves and in bird houses.
Lays five to seven, more or less, white, sometimes speckled eggs. |
Herman T. Bohlman & William Lovell Finley, American Birds, 1907
Forages in trees and thickets for insects,
spiders and cone seeds. Chestnut-backed Chickadees are year around
residents and might take advantage of northern winter warming roosts.
Feed Chickadees sunflower seeds, nyjer (thistle seeds) and suet.
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| The Chestnut-backed Chickadee nest box (same as for Nuthatches, Titmice,
Downy Woodpecker and other Chickadees) has a 4" by 4" floor, 9"
inside ceiling, 1 1/4" diameter entrance hole located 7" above the floor and
ventilation openings. Assembled with corrosion resistant screws fit to pre-drilled
countersunk pilot holes. Hinged roof is secured with shutter hooks for easy access. Mount nest box on a tree trunk or hang from a tree limb from chest level
to just out of reach, higher only if necessary. |
Allan Brooks
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| Because Chickadees
commonly nest in natural or abandon cavities, or excavate their own
cavities, a few chips on the nest box floor are fitting. Remove the nest
after the brood rearing seasons are over.
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