# Mountain Chickadee (*Poecile gambeli*) The Mountain Chickadee is a small, cheerful bird with a black cap and white cheeks. They love to flit around trees and are known for their sweet, whistling calls that sound like 'chick-a-dee-dee-dee'. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Mountain Chickadee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mountain_Chickadee%252C_Santa_Fe_Ski_Area.jpg&width=800) Photo: Peter Wallack, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mountain_Chickadee%252C_Santa_Fe_Ski_Area.jpg) ## Appearance The Mountain Chickadee has a distinctive black cap and bib, contrasted by a prominent white eyebrow stripe. Its back and wings are grey, while its underside is mostly white with buffy flanks. This small, agile bird stands out with its bold head markings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Paridae - **Genus:** Poecile ## Interesting facts - Mountain Chickadees can lower their body temperature at night to save precious energy. - Their 'chick-a-dee-dee-dee' call changes meaning based on the number of 'dees'. - They excavate their own nest cavities in rotten wood or natural tree holes! - They often join mixed-species bird flocks in winter for safety and easier foraging. ## Special abilities - **Cold Survivalist:** Mountain Chickadee can puff up its feathers to trap insulating air, helping them stay warm in freezing mountain temperatures. - **Acrobatic Forager:** Mountain Chickadee has strong, agile feet that help it hang upside down to find hidden insects and seeds on branches. - **Memory Master:** Mountain Chickadee has an amazing memory that helps it recall where it has hidden thousands of seeds for winter meals. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 13-15 cm - **Wingspan:** 19-22 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.014 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-6 years - **Speed:** 48 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-9 - **Incubation:** 12-15 days ## Diet & Feeding A tiny bird that loves munching on insects and spiders, but also enjoys tasty seeds and berries! - **Primary Foods:** Caterpillars, Spiders, Aphids, Conifer Seeds, Berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Sharp-shinned Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sharp-shinned-hawk) (*Accipiter striatus*) — Hunted by this agile, speedy forest hawk. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Pygmy-Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pygmy-owl) (*Glaucidium gnoma*) — A small owl that preys on chickadees. - **Depends on:** Ponderosa Pine (*Pinus ponderosa*) — Relies on its seeds and tree cavities for nesting. - **Eats:** Western Spruce Budworm (*Choristoneura occidentalis*) — Consumes larvae of this common forest insect. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance, and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mountain Chickadee? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Mountain Chickadee? 13-15 cm ### What is Mountain Chickadee's wingspan? 19-22 cm ### How much does Mountain Chickadee weigh? 0.01-0.014 kg ### How long does Mountain Chickadee live? 2-6 years ### How fast can Mountain Chickadee move? 48 km/h ### What does Mountain Chickadee eat? A tiny bird that loves munching on insects and spiders, but also enjoys tasty seeds and berries! ### Where is Mountain Chickadee usually found? Mountain regions ## Where to spot - [Barrio De Analco Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrio-de-analco-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-tahoe-basin-management-unit) — Nevada, US · Forest - [Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/strattons-independence-mine-and-mill) — Colorado, US · Historic Site - [Belly River Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belly-river-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Cripple Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cripple-creek-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-sand-dunes-national-park-and-preserve) — Colorado, US · National Park [View all places to see Mountain Chickadee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mountain-chickadee) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Mountain Chickadee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mountain-chickadee)