Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Poecile rufescens

Diet of the Chestnut-backed chickadee

The Chestnut-backed chickadee eats insects and spiders gleaned from foliage, branches of trees. They especially like conifers to forage in. They will even eat conifer seeds.

Migration of the Chestnut-backed chickadee

The Chestnut-backed chickadee is a year-long resident in California, that is, it does not migrate.

Nesting habitats of the Chestnut-backed chickadee

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee builds its nest in an old woodpecker cavity or excavates its own cavity. They usually nest in the lower part of the tree.

Range of the Chestnut-backed chickadee

The Chestnut-backed chickadee is found along coastal California from about Point Conception up into Oregon. It is also found in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Habitat/ Plant community used by the Chestnut-backed chickadee

The one time I have seen these birds they were in a large chirping flock in dense willows near coniferous trees within a quarter mile of the ocean.

Closed Cone Pine Forest

Riparian

Redwood forest

Douglas Fir Forest

How to attract the Chestnut-backed chickadee to your garden

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee likes conifers. It would probably come to your garden if you were in its normal range and you had a mature conifer. Some suggestions are Douglas Fir.

Learn more about California's flora from our front page.

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Last edited on 2013-01-20 19:44:05.

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