Gray-headed Chickadee

Basic Description

The hardy Gray-headed Chickadee weighs virtually nothing and yet somehow can survive year-round in the farthest northern forests in the world. Its fluffy plumage and prolific food caching help it get through unfathomably cold winter temperatures (as low as –60°C or –76°F). Inhabiting both coniferous and deciduous forests, this richly colored, brown-capped chickadee forages tirelessly for insects and seeds, stashing thousands as a hedge against lean winters. Pairs mate for life and nest in natural cavities, old woodpecker holes, and nest boxes. Found primarily in northern Eurasia, where it is known as Siberian Tit, this species is also a rare resident in Alaska.