Chickadee or Sparrow?

Herb · Post by **Herb** » Dec 20, 2005 1:30 pm

..After looking at our bird book, we can't decide whether this is a Chickadee or a Sparrow,

My guess is that it's a Chickadee. What do you think?

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Dec 20, 2005 2:49 pm

That is indeed a chickadee - probably a chestnut-backed chickadee. Adorable!

oldcoot · Post by **oldcoot** » Dec 20, 2005 3:58 pm

Thanks for posting as type of Chicadcee OC doesn't have...John

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » Dec 20, 2005 8:17 pm

I think we have these, too...

Thanks!!

Ed_B · Post by **Ed_B** » Dec 21, 2005 3:39 pm

I think it is a male house sparrow, it looks like the ones I have here. The Chickadee doesn't have any brown in it.

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Dec 21, 2005 4:25 pm

It really is a chestnut-backed chickadee - let me see if I can find a photo of one. The chestnut-backed, which is found in B.C., has the brown. There are actually four or five different species of chickadee that can be found in North America.

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Dec 21, 2005 4:29 pm

Here we go! These are some photos of the chestnut-backed chickadee. I will post some, also, of the other species of chickadees that some of you may have.

Chestnut-backed:

Map for likely range of chestnut-backed chickadee:

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Dec 21, 2005 4:34 pm

Boreal Chickadee - found in northeast USA and Canada:

Picture, including range (in purple):

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Snow · Post by **Snow** » Dec 21, 2005 4:40 pm

The Carolina Chickadee, and Black-capped Chickadee are so much alike, I doubt I could tell them apart. You might notice a difference in their "call", and of course their range. They do cross over into each others' ranges, though.

Carolina

Black-capped

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Dec 21, 2005 4:41 pm

Mountain chickadee:

Range:

oldcoot · Post by **oldcoot** » Dec 21, 2005 5:22 pm

He never KNEW that Chicadees were an6ything BUT black and white. Ours do have some buff. Hope to make some pictures tomorrow. Filled all the feeders today, and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny. Sure give it a try........

That Old Coot named John

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » Dec 21, 2005 5:48 pm

Well, I guess I don't have that one then...

Snow, you are amazing!! Boy did we get a great lesson!!

Thank-You for doing all that!!

Ed_B · Post by **Ed_B** » Dec 21, 2005 6:36 pm

I stand humbled, and ready to check this all out.
I have never seen anything but the Blacked Cap before,
Thanks for giving me something else to do this winter.

Merry Christmas

I looked the pictures of the sparrow i though it was, and they have a brown on top of the head, so thanks for the picture of a bird I have never seen before. Kinda cool!

PeggyC · Post by **PeggyC** » Dec 21, 2005 7:35 pm

I also very much appreciate the birding lesson Snow!!

I didn't realize there were so many different chickadees!

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Dec 21, 2005 9:15 pm

Lol - I hope I dont come across as anything other than an enthusiastic birder

I have been doing it for so many years, it comes naturally to me. Just a hobby

Old earth dog · Post by **Old earth dog** » Dec 21, 2005 11:27 pm

Very

! The Black Cap is the only one we have here....I think.

Doris_J · Post by **Doris_J** » Dec 22, 2005 9:32 am

My little Chickadee...

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » Dec 22, 2005 10:10 am

Nice pictures, Doris!!

Thanks!

petal*pusher · Post by **petal*pusher** » Dec 22, 2005 7:38 pm

Such great info you have shared with us Snow! Mine are all black-capped here.....I sure was not aware so many different kinds of chickadees were out there!

For the past 3 winters, I have had a little albino fella I call "Rascal"....he has a very light gray head and body. Haven't seen him this winter.......p

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Dec 22, 2005 10:12 pm

Sometimes I think it's worse when we learn to recognize one particular visitor, because we know when they stop coming.

Hallson Gardens

Chickadee or Sparrow?

Chickadee or Sparrow?

What ever he is, he's pretty

Until OC started "editing" the birds