Mountain chickadee
A small, acrobatic forest bird marked by a white stripe over the eye.
NPS describes the mountain chickadee as a tiny bird, 4.5 to 5.5 inches long, with a large head, small bill, round belly and long tail. Its black-and-white head, white body and gray wings stand out, and the white stripe over the eye separates it from other chickadees.
It is quick and acrobatic, flying from tree to tree and hanging upside down on pine cones. Nests are usually in natural tree holes or holes carved by woodpeckers or nuthatches, and chickadees will excavate their own if the wood is soft enough.
NPS passes along an estimate that a half-ounce chickadee needs only about 10 calories a day, which still means a steady supply of seeds and insects through cold forest winters. Look for it in the same conifer forest where nuthatches and woodpeckers work the bark.
How to recognize it
Black cap and bib with a white stripe over the eye.
Watching and staying safe
Watch from trails and leave tree cavities alone.
Places the sources name
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