Perch Supply
Diet

What do chestnut-backed chickadees eat?

Insects from conifer foliage; seeds.

Tits and chickadees (Paridae)Chestnut-backed ChickadeePoecile rufescens

Spring and summer diet

  • Caterpillars and aphids

Fall and winter diet

  • Conifer seeds

Best feeder foods

  • Black-oil sunflower
  • Suet

A bird of wet Pacific conifer forest; forages high in Douglas fir and hemlock.

Which feeder works best for chestnut-backed chickadees →

Where chestnut-backed chickadees need winter food

Regions where chestnut-backed chickadees are present in the cold months:

AlaskaBritish ColumbiaCaliforniaIdahoMontanaOregonWashington

Frequently asked

What do chestnut-backed chickadees eat?

Insects from conifer foliage; seeds.

What is the best food to feed chestnut-backed chickadees?

Black-oil sunflower, Suet.

What do chestnut-backed chickadees eat in winter?

Conifer seeds.

Sources

  1. Chestnut-backed Chickadee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Chestnut-backed Chickadee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Chestnut-backed Chickadee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.