Gray-headed Chickadee

The Gray-headed Chickadee, called the Siberian Tit across most of its Eurasian range, is a large, shaggy-capped chickadee of the far north, showing a grayish-brown cap, buffy-brown flanks, a large white cheek patch, and a black bib. It is one of the rarest and least-studied breeding birds in North America, found only in remote parts of northern and western Alaska and extreme northern Yukon, where it is difficult to locate due to low density and inaccessible habitat.

Across its much larger Eurasian range, spanning Scandinavia through Siberia, it is more numerous and better studied, inhabiting similar subarctic scrub and taiga edge habitat.

Key Field Marks

• Grayish-brown cap, longer and shaggier-looking than other chickadees
• Large, prominent white cheek patch
• Black bib
• Buffy-brown wash on flanks
• Overall larger and bulkier than Boreal Chickadee

Similar Species

• Boreal Chickadee: smaller, with a more solidly brown cap and less prominent cheek patch; ranges overlap in parts of Alaska.
• Black-capped Chickadee: has a solid black (not brownish-gray) cap and less buffy flanks.
• Distinguishing this species requires careful attention to cap color, cheek patch size, and overall bulk, especially where it might overlap with Boreal Chickadee.

Habitat

Gray-headed Chickadees inhabit subarctic scrub, particularly stunted willow and birch thickets near tree line, as well as open taiga forest edges.

Range

In North America the species is restricted to remote parts of northern and western Alaska and extreme northern Yukon; it is far more widespread across northern Scandinavia, Russia, and Siberia, where it is known as the Siberian Tit.

Migration

The species is largely non-migratory, remaining resident within its subarctic range through the winter, relying on cached food to survive extreme cold and limited daylight.

Behavior

Like other chickadees, it forages actively in scrub and low trees, typically in pairs or small family groups, and readily caches food for retrieval during the long, dark winter.

Voice

The call is a nasal, buzzy "chick-a-day-day," somewhat lower and harsher than that of related chickadees; song consists of simple whistled or buzzy phrases.

Feeding

Diet includes insects and spiders during the brief summer, shifting to cached seeds and other stored food during the long winter months.

Nesting

Nests are placed in tree cavities, often old woodpecker holes in birch or willow, lined with fur and feathers for insulation. Clutches typically number 6-10 eggs.