5-5 3/4" (13-15 cm). Black crown
, white eyebrow, black
eye- stripe, white cheeks and nape, and black throat. Gray
above and whitish below. Poecile
gambeli
(Mountain
Chickadee)
Physical
Description:
5-5 3/4" (13-15 cm). Black
crown, white eyebrow, black
eye- stripe, white cheeks and nape, and black throat. Gray
above and whitish below.
Similar Species- Other chickadees, Bridled Titmouse
Song:
A
clear, whistled fee-bee-bee; and a husky chick-a zhee-zhee.
Distribution:
Resident
in mountains from southeastern Alaska, British Columbia, and southwestern Alberta,
south to northern Baja California, central and southeastern Arizona, southeastern
and central New Mexico, and southwestern Texas.
Habitat:
During breeding
season, found in montane coniferous forests (especially pine,
spruce/fir, and pinyon/juniper). During winter, found at lower elevations in
mixed (pine/oak) and riparian woodlands. Pacific Northwest study indicated species
is habitat generalist, found in structurally variable montane forests.
Diet:
Feeds on a variety of insect
food.
Ecology:
Nests in natural or
excavated cavity in standing snag or tree. Forages in foliage. Forms mixed-species
flocks in winter. Mean territory
size has been estimated at 1.5 ha. Breeding density has been reported as 71.5
breeding pairs/100 ha in White Mountains in Arizona, less than 10 breeding pairs/40
ha in northern Arizona, and up to 11 pairs/40 ha in thinned forest with added
nest boxes. Territory size in southwestern Alberta averaged about 6-7 ha, and
overlapped with territories of Black-capped Chickadee.
size is usually 6-12 eggs.
Incubation lasts 14 days. Young are tended by both parents, and leave nest in
about 20 days. Female possibly produces 2 broods annually.
Conservation:
Element
Code:
ABPAW01040
Status:
Protected
nongame species
Global
Rank:
G5
State
Rank:
S5
Important
State References:
Langelier,
L. 1983. Habitat selection of common breeding bird species in western spruce
budworm outbreaks. M.S. Thesis, Univ. Idaho, Moscow. 199pp.