Boreal Chickadee - Sierra Club BC
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Boreal Chickadee

CAN BE FOUND IN:

Boreal Chickadee

Poecile hudsonicus 

Appearance

These small birds have brown colouring on top of their head and black under their chin. They also have a white belly. They have a short bill, are fluffy and round, and are 13 to 14 centimetres long. 

Range & Habitat

They breed in the coniferous forests of North America, from the tree line in northern Canada to the northernmost U.S. states. They usually stay in this same area for breeding and to overwinter. Occasionally, some will go further south, but most of them are able to survive the cold winters. 

REciprocal relationships

Boreal chickadees are an important indicator species of boreal ecosystems! This means that if the boreal chickadee population declines, it indicates a larger problem in the boreal ecosystem. These birds forage in trees, eating insects, seeds and some fruit. They often hang upside down when eating!  

These birds will “cache” or hide their food in certain areas for survival throughout the winter. Boreal chickadees nest in cavities, using old woodpecker nests or excavating their own. They line their nest with lichen, moss, fur or tree bark.  

They say their name “chickadee” when they call and will scold loudly when someone enters their territory. They are usually in pairs in the summer and small flocks for the winter. 

status

COSEWIC: Not Reported 
CDC: Yellow 

more information

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca

Photo Credit

JulioM

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