Mountain Chickadee Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesMountain Chickadee
Adult
Tiny, large-headed but small-billed, with a long, narrow tail and a round belly. Grayish overall with white cheeks, a black cap and throat, and a white eyebrow.
© Michael Woodruff / Macaulay LibraryWashington, April 22, 2019Adult
Small and inquisitive. Looks similar to other chickadees, but white eyebrow stripe separates them from other chickadees.
© Marc North / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, December 07, 2015Adult
Small, active bird with black bib, white cheeks, and white eyebrow stripe.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 29, 1997Not all videos have sound
Adult
Nests in holes in trees created by woodpeckers or excavates its own in trees with soft wood. Also uses nest boxes.
© John C Breitsch / Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 28, 2017Adult (with Downy Woodpecker)
Visits bird feeders year-round to eat suet, black oil sunflower seeds, and nyjer seeds.
© Dennis Leonard / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 29, 2017Habitat
Active and acrobatic, clinging to small limbs and twigs or hanging upside down from pine cones. Found in evergreen forests in mountains of western North America.
© Ian Hearn / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, July 25, 2017Similar SpeciesBlack-capped Chickadee
Adult
Black-capped Chickadees lack the Mountain Chickadee's white stripe over the eye. Black-capped tends to be seen among deciduous trees along drainages, while Mountain Chickadees are more often found in evergreen forests.
© Scott Martin / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 03, 2017Similar SpeciesBridled Titmouse
Adult
Bridled Titmouse has a pointed crest to the head, unlike Mountain Chickadee's rounded head. The Bridled Titmouse's stripe over the eye extends down the neck, unlike Mountain Chickadee's.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 09, 2016Similar SpeciesBoreal Chickadee
Adult
Boreal Chickadees have limited overlap with Mountain Chickadees, mainly in northwestern Canada. Boreal Chickadee has a brown head and no white stripe over the eye.
© Chris Peters / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, January 02, 2017Similar SpeciesChestnut-backed Chickadee
Adult
Chestnut-backed Chickadee lacks a white stripe over the eye and has a rich brown back, unlike Mountain Chickadee's gray back.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 04, 2016Similar SpeciesCarolina Chickadee
Adult
Carolina Chickadees don't overlap in range with Mountain Chickadees. They also lack Mountain's white stripe over the eye.
© Michael O'Brien / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, February 18, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Paridae)
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