Description

Tossing me a backwards glance and awaiting its turn on the suet cage is one of a pair of Chestnut-Backed Chickadees who are semi-regulars to the backyard. Come springtime, this duo disappears into the higher elevations to breed, and in early summer, return with their latest brood. During the summer of 2017, there were two parents and three fledglings who made appearances throughout June, July, and August.

Their fondness for suet is matched only by their weakness for sunflower seeds. Unlike their bigger, more boisterous Black-Capped cousins, “our” Chestnut-Backed Chickadees have never shown any interest in the hummingbird nectar (to the relief of the Anna’s and Rufous hummingbirds).

Category

Category 6: Sweet for Suet

Species

• Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Tags

• Bird
• chickadee
• backyard bird
• songbird
• birdwatching
• Pacific Northwest
• West Coast
• chestnut-backed chickadee