Songbirds

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Poecile rufescens

The westernmost chickadee in North America, with a rich chestnut back and flanks, black cap, and white cheeks. A lively, acrobatic forager in Kodiak's coastal spruce forests.

Where to look

Sitka spruce forests at Fort Abercrombie, Anton Larsen Bay road corridor, and wooded drainages near Kodiak town.

Habitat

Moist coniferous forests, especially Sitka spruce and alder thickets.

Diet

Insects, spiders, seeds, and berries.

Natural history note

Chestnut-backed Chickadees can lower their body temperature at night to conserve energy during cold Alaskan winters.