Grey-headed Chickadee
Poecile cinctus
西伯利亚山雀
Introduction
Passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. Widespread resident breeder throughout subarctic Scandinavia and the northern Palearctic, with populations extending into Alaska and the far northwest of Canada. Conifer specialist, preferring mature coniferous forest habitats. Most individuals are resident and do not migrate. Population has shown dramatic local decline, particularly in Norway where representation among tit species dropped from 64% in 1982 to just 1% in 2011 in lichen-dominated pine forest.
Description
Fairly large tit with body length of 13.5–14 cm and weight of 11–14.3 g. Head is dark brown with distinctive white cheek patches. Mantle is brown. Wing feathers are blackish with pale fringes. Underparts are whitish with pale brown flanks.
Identification
Fairly large tit species within its genus. Combination of dark brown head with white cheeks, brown mantle, and whitish underparts with pale brown flanks distinguishes it from similar species.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds throughout subarctic Scandinavia and the northern Palearctic, extending into Alaska and the far northwest of Canada. Inhabits mature coniferous forest habitats, particularly lichen-dominated pine forests. Resident species with most individuals remaining in breeding territories year-round.
Behavior & Ecology
Conifer specialist with feeding habits adapted to coniferous forest environments. Detailed information on diet, breeding biology, social behavior, and vocalizations not provided in source material.
Conservation
Significant population decline documented in Norway between 1982 and 2011. Representation among tit individuals in lichen-dominated pine forest dropped from 64% to just 1%. Threats include interspecies competition with willow tits and great tits, decreased vegetation due to climate change, and logging of old-growth trees which are preferred over new-growth stands. No IUCN assessment cited.
Culture
No cultural significance, folklore, or traditional references documented in available source material.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Paridae
- Genus
- Poecile
- eBird Code
- gyhchi
Subspecies (4)
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Poecile cinctus cinctus
northern Ural Mountains to Bering Sea and northeastern Mongolia
-
Poecile cinctus lapponicus
Fenno-Scandia, southern Kola Peninsula, and northern European Russia
-
Poecile cinctus lathami
coniferous forest of Alaska and northwestern Canada
-
Poecile cinctus sayanus
Altai, Sayan, and Tannu-Ola mountains to northwestern Mongolia
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.