Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Poecile (unknown small bird) atricapillus ("black cap")

Adult Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) in Anchorage, Alaska, USA - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Poecile atricapillus turneri
Weight: 9-14g  /  Length: 12-15cm  /  Wingspan: 15-21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small and abundant tit that is found throughout much of Northern North America, although in the South-Eastern US it is replaced by the very similar looking Carolina Chickadee. It is an adaptable species found in both coniferous and deciduous forests as well as human modified habitats. They are not migratory, but have several adaptations to deal with cold temperatures including caching behaviour and the ability to lower their body temperature and enter a state of torpor.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
SUBSPECIES: P. a. turneri, P. a. occidentalis, P. a. fortuitus, P. a. septentrionalis, P. a. bartletti, P. a. garrinus, P. a. nevadensis, P. a. practicus

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Present in Southern and Central Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

UNITED STATES - Present in Northern States of the Lower 48 and Alaska
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Poecile (unknown small bird) hudsonicus ("of the Hudson")

Adult Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Poecile hudsonicus stoneyi
Weight: 10g  /  Length: 13-14cm  /  Wingspan: 21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name implies, a specialist of the taiga of North America, particularly favouring spruce and fir forests. They may associate with other chickadee species where they overlap, with the few I saw being mixed in with Black-capped Chickadee flocks.  They store food for the winter, often within the same trees they forage in.  

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
SUBSPECIES: P. h. stoneyi, P. h. hudsonicus, P. h. columbianus, P. h.  farleyi, P. h. littoralis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Present in Alaska and range just tips over the Northern US Border
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Poecile (unknown small bird) rufescens ("reddish")

Adult Chestnut-backed Chickadee (subspecies P. r. barlowi) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Poecile rufescens barlowi
Weight: 8.5-12g  /  Length: 11-12cm  /  Wingspan: 19cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The only typical member of the tit family found in the Bay Area, the Chestnut-backed Chickadee is a fairly typical member of the family visually, although the namesake chestnut back does make it stand out. They are adaptable to harsh winters via being able to manage their own nocturnal hypothermia, which some studies have suggested could reduce their energy usage by approaching a third.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
SUBSPECIES: P. r. rufescens, P. r. neglectus, P. r. barlowi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

A West Coast species, including Southern Alaska
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley and Roy's Redwoods

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Poecile (unknown small bird) montanus ("of the mountains")

Adult Willow Tit (subspecies P. m. kleinshcmidti) in Pitsford Reservoir, Northants -  January 2011

Featured Subspecies: Poecile montanus kleinschmidti
Weight: 12-13g  /  Length: 10-13cm  /  Wingspan: 19cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most pressing issue with the Willow Tit is the fact it is very very similar looking to the more common marsh tit, and indeed, often they can live in the same places and habitats. The Marsh Tit is by far the more common of the two around where I live, so generally, I tend to assume that a bird is a Marsh tit unless I have reason to doubt it. The are a few identifying features however - the pale panel on the wing and the roundness, which I've seen described as "bull necked" or "egg shaped". The real best feature for this species is the call, the standard call for each being very distinct - in the case of the Marsh tit, which is a fairly typical high pitched and slightly sneeze like tweeting, while these birds call with a deeper and more nasal "pchay chay chay". It's probably worth taking a look online to listen to the difference.  The is doing fine worldwide, it has suffered massive declines in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
Subspecies: P. m. kleinschmidti, P. m. rhenanus, P. m. salicarius, P. m. montanus, P. m. borealis, P. m. uralensis, P. m. baicalensis, P. m. anadyrensis, P. m. kamtschatkensis, P. m. sachalinensis, P. m. restrictus, P. m. songarus, P. m. affinis, P. m. stoetzneri   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread but scarce and local breeding resident (3,400 pairs)

 - Occasional single birds seen at Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.

Further Information: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Poecile (unknown small bird) palustris ("marsh")

Adult Marsh Tit (subspecies P. p. palustris) at Geddington, Northants -  July 2010

Featured Subspecies: Poecile palustris palustris
Weight: 12g  /  Length: 11.5-12cm  /  Wingspan: 19cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The biggest issue with the Marsh Tit is that it looks effectively identical to the Willow Tit. On the Marsh Tit side of things this isn't necessarily a huge issue as it is the more common of the two so assuming "marsh" is relatively safe unless you have information to the contrary. They are also very much "flitty" birds - moving in and out of cover making it difficult to photograph them or even confirm their identity (a pale patch at the base of the beak being the most easy visual way). They are most frequently encountered in flocks of various tits.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
Subspecies: P. p. palustris, P. p. stagnatilis, P. p. kabardensis, P. p. italicus, P. p. brevirostris, P. p. ernsti, P. p. hensoni, P. p. hellmayri      

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Uncommon breeding species (41,000 territories)

 - Birds seen at Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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