Jump to species:

Gray-headed Chickadee (Poecile cinctus)
Printer Friendly

Did You Know?

The gray-headed chickadee is the northernmost chickadee in North America.

General Description

The gray-headed chickadee, formerly known as the Siberian Tit, is a rarely seen Asian species that has become established in forest and stream-side habitats near tree line in central and northern Alaska. It is one of four chickadee species that occurs in the state and looks like a slightly larger, paler version of the more common boreal chickadee. Its white cheek patches are also larger than those of the other four species and its calls are distinctive and complex, most typically a “dee–deer” or “pee–vee.”

Territorial during the breeding season, chickadees flock during the rest of the year. Small flocks made up of several adult pairs and unrelated juveniles are commonly seen from late summer through winter.

Chickadees are specially adapted to endure Alaska’s rugged winters. They have much denser, better- insulating plumage than other songbirds their size and a special ability to put on fat quickly. Birds burn fat like fuel to keep themselves warm in winter. A chickadee can put on eight percent of their body weight in fat each day. Chickadees also drop their body temperature at night in order to conserve their winter fuel and “shiver” to keep their body temperature stable.

Life History

Growth and Reproduction

Gray-headed chickadees mate for life, nesting in breeding pairs generally by May. The nests are located in holes in trees. Usually the female begins excavating the cavity with some assistance from the male. The nest itself is built of soft materials, like hair, fur, and a few feathers, on a base of dry moss. The female alone lines the nest while the male remains nearby. Egg laying, in clutches of one to 11 eggs, begins two or three days later.

As the female incubates the eggs, the male enters the hole only to feed the female. Most eggs hatch at 15 days. The female eats the egg shells, some believe for the calcium. Both parents feed the young and fledging normally occurs within 18 days. The young stay with their parents for another two weeks after fledging and subsequently disperse.

Feeding Ecology

Chickadees are very acrobatic as they glean insects, insect eggs and larvae from leaves, twigs, branches and bark. Most of their diet is caterpillars and eggs of moths, aphids, scale insects, beetles and other insects and spiders. They may pull the wings of moths and discard before eating the insect. Seeds and berries are also eaten and fat may be scavenged from animal carcasses.

Like most chickadees, the gray-headed chickadee caches food regularly, often in lichen or crevices in tree bark. This behavior is probably critical for winter survival. Studies show they have an amazing ability to remember hundreds of hiding places.

Migration

Chickadees generally stick to their breeding range year round but periodic irruptions occur outside their range, usually during fall, winter and spring. Irruptions southward are probably related to food shortages.

Range and Habitat

The gray-headed chickadee favors open coniferous and hardwood forest. In Alaska, it may be found in tracts of willow or low spruce located in river valleys or along mountain bases where it is the sole chickadee species.

Its range extends into the Arctic and is nearly circumpolar. While a permanent resident, the young birds may wander south of the breeding range, particularly during harsh winters.

Status, Trends, and Threats

Status

New World numbers are unknown but the species is in decline in the Old World, especially Scandinavia, due to logging pressures.

Trends

Populations have been declining since at least the 1940s.

Threats

Of all the chickadees, the gray-headed chickadee would appear to be most vulnerable to human disturbance. It lives in such harsh ecological conditions and is so sparely distributed that populations could decline rapidly.

Fast Facts

  • Size
    4.5–5 inches, .3–.5 oz
  • Range/Distribution
    Subarctic regions of open coniferous and hardwood forest or, in Alaska, among tracts of willow and low spruce.
  • Diet
    Insects, spiders and conifer seeds.
  • Predators
    Sparrow hawk and pygmy owl.
  • Reproduction
    Single clutch per year with four to nine eggs.

Did You Know?

  • The difference between a chickadee’s core temperature and winter air temperature in Alaska can be as much as 150°F but chickadees have a heavy down coat and other adaptations to shield them from the cold.
  • The gray-headed chickadee is one of the rarest regularly breeding birds in Alaska and one of the few cavity nesters in the subpolar regions.
  • Chickadees have been observed sunbathing in summer, perched in an open place with their wings slightly spread.
  • The gray-headed chickadee is the northernmost chickadee in North America.

Get Involved

More Resources

General Information

Wildlife Viewing