20 Birds Similar to Chickadee: A Complete Guide to Tell Them Apart

You step out of your house and get to hear an array of chirps and trills, and a bouquet of red, yellow, black and white birds flapping about! If you are an admirer of chickadee birds, you would know that there are dozens of birds similar to chickadee. You may have thought, for sure, about how to tell them apart.

Here, at first, you will brush up your knowledge on chickadee birds. Next, you will learn about the appearance, habitats, diet, and nesting habits of 20 other birds that look like chickadee. You will also get a list of similarities and differences between the birds so that you can easily tell them apart. Let’s dive down without wasting any more time.

Description of Chickadee At-A-Glance

Chickadee birds have a small body that ranges anywhere between 12 to 15 cm (4.7 to 5.9 inches). They are birds of the family ‘Paridae’, and genus ‘Poecile’, with 7 known species, namely Boreal, Black-capped, Mountain, Mexican, Carolina, Gray-headed, and Chestnut-backed chickadees.

Native to North America, these birds can be found in the United States, Canada and Calgary. All 7 chickadees have black or rufous crowns and throats, while the rest of the body is a mixture of subtle shades of gray, chestnut/brown, and blue. They also have white chest and belly. Mexican chickadees have a longer bib than the others.

They got their name from the vocalizations they produce that can be described as ‘chick-a-dee-dee-dee’. Occasionally, they also make sounds like ‘fee bee’ and ‘chee-lee’. They live for about 2 to 3 years in mixed forests of deciduous and conifers, and also in open woods and groves.

Chickadees breed between April and July, and nest in excavations or abandoned woodpeckers’ holes. They survive on seeds and berries in winters, and insects in summers.

20 Phenomenal Birds Similar to Chickadee

You would be amazed to discover that there are numerous birds similar to chickadee. From a distance, birds like sparrows, swallows, gnatcatchers, warblers and vireos resemble chickadees very closely. Certain species of woodpeckers and kiskadees, because of their black and white plumage, appear to look like chickadees too.

The list below describes not only the physical appearance of birds similar to chickadee, but also talks about where they live, what they like to eat and how they make their nests. This array of information will surely help you to distinguish between these similar looking avians.

Sparrow Similar to Chickadee

Sparrows are tiny birds similar to chickadee. These birds have conical bills, with a brownish-gray overall appearance. Some of them have a distinct black and white pattern on the head that make them resemble the chickadees.

Below we have chosen three such New World sparrows, listed out the similarities, and also advised how to distinguish between the two.

American Tree Sparrow

Source: @jackson.joo

• Scientific Name: Spizelloides arborea
• Family: Passerellidae
• Length: 14 cm (5.5 in)
• Locality: All over North America
• Life Span: 2 to 3 years

Also known as the winter sparrow, these little birds are quite similar in appearance to the adult male Chestnut-Backed Chickadees and Boreal Chickadees. Primarily found in South America, these birds breed in the tundra areas of Canada and Alaska.

Males have a rufous crown and auburn upper wings, with white to off-white breast and belly regions. There are white stripes and spots at the end of the wings. Open areas like forest clearings, gardens and marshes are their favorite places. They can also be found in human neighborhoods munching from bird feeders.

In the summer, they prefer insects. In winters, however, they prefer fruits, nuts and seeds of various kinds. They breed between June and September. Females build nests single-handedly on the ground with the help of moss, grasses and feathers.

Call: High-pitched warble or whistle, becoming buzzy at the end

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Chestnut-backed and Boreal chickadees have different shades of brown on their crowns, upper wings and flanks.
• Same body size
• Short beaks
• Prefer open areas for foraging and nesting
• Similar dietary habits
• Build nests near the ground

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• American Tree Sparrows do not have a black bib
• Chickadees produce more melodious calls

Black-Throated Sparrow

Source: @latropa.loca

• Scientific Name: Amphispiza bilineata
• Family: Passerellidae
• Length: 12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in)
• Locality: South -Western United States, Mexico, Parts of Central America
• Life Span: 6 years

These species of new-world sparrows are also known as “desert sparrows” and, from a distance, they look quite similar to mountain chickadees. These birds migrate to the deserts during the winters in the United States.

These tiny passerines have a distinct black-and-white appearance. They have black crowns and long-black bibs. A very pretty feature of these avians is the white line across their crowns and necks. They have white to off-white breasts.

Deserts are their favorite place to hang-out. They can be spotted on or near bushes, thickets, hill slopes and gravel pavements. You can often spot them on or near the ground trampling around for insects, especially in the breeding seasons. They eat insects mainly for hydration. In the winters, they prefer seeds.

Pairing and nesting starts in March and continues till mid-August. Cup-shaped nests are built near the ground.

Call: Warbles and whistles

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns and throats, with a white stripe running across the crown
• Black stripe running across their eye region
• White to off-white breast and belly
• Small beak
• Similar preferences for food

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• Chickadees have white cheeks. Black-throated sparrows have black cheeks.
• Mountain chickadees have blue-gray wings, whereas black-throated sparrows have black-white wings.

Harris’s Sparrow

Source: @pawprints1405

• Scientific Name: Zonotrichia querula
• Family: Passerellidae
• Length: 17 to 20 cm (6.7 to 7.9 in)
• Locality: Entire central part of North America
• Life Span: 11 years

Did you know that these handsome looking sparrows breed no where else except Canada? Unfortunately, this is also the reason why they are a near-threatened species. During winters, they migrate to the Great Plains in the south. Harris’s sparrow has been chosen for this list because they look a lot like the Mexican chickadees.

Harris’s sparrows are the largest in North America. They have a black crown and bib, and a short bill that is pink. Their bellies are white in color. These sparrows dislike dense forests, so they visit the Canadian tundra areas for breeding in the patches of pine, spruce and alder. They also like shrubs.

When insects are scarce, they like to collect seeds of knotweed and goosefoot and different types of berries. Flies and beetles are their favorite munchies.Females build the nests near the ground, below short alders and birches, protected against the wind. They breed between May and August.

Call: HIgh to low-pitched wavering whistles, metallic ‘chink’, tweets

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns and throats
• White cheek
• White to off-white breast and belly, brown upperparts
• Small beaks
• Similar preferences for food and nest-building

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• Harris’s sparrows have brown upperwings, with white spots and black stripes, whereas mexican chickadees have more plain brown upper wings.
• Harris’s sparrows are larger with longer tails.
• The two birds have different colored beaks.
• Harris’s sparrows do not like dense forests. Mexican chickadees prefer woodlands and mountain forests.

Gnatcatcher Similar to Chickadee

Gnatcatchers are common American passerine birds similar to chickadee. Many of the gnatcatchers have a distinctive black-and-white appearance, the reason why we have found them to be quite akin to chickadee birds.

In the list below, we have given similarities and differences between the two types of birds so that you can spot them easily.

Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher

Source: @kristinapril30

• Scientific Name: Polioptila melanura
• Family: Polioptilidae
• Length: 10 to 13 cm (3.9 to 5.1 in)
• Locality: Southern United States, Central America
• Life Span: 3 to 4 years

Black-tailed gnatcatchers are one of the most adorable looking birds in the world with a mere weight equal to a nickel! This species, though belonging to the Polioptilidae family, look quite similar to Carolina chickadees.

Adult males of these gnatcatchers have a black cap and a black tail. The upper wings are bluish-black and the belly region is white. Females lack black crowns.These birds like elevated lands located higher than 7000 feet! They prefer thorny scrubs, bushes and cacti of deserts to live and forage in.

Black-tailed gnatcatchers are well-adapted to living in dry areas and they hydrate primarily by eating insects like caterpillars and beetles. The pairs breed between late March and late August. The cup-shaped nests are built by both the parents in shrubs 5 feet off the ground.

Call: Harsh, scolding calls; chirps and metallic buzz

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns
• Small and short beak
• Bluish-black upper wings, with black and white stripes
• White breast and belly regions

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The gnatcatcher lacks a black throat and white cheeks
• Carolina chickadee has a shorter beak; the gnatcatcher’s beak is slightly hooked
• Carolina chickadees prefer mixed forests; the gnatcatcher lives in deserts
• The gnatcatcher has a harsher voice; the chickadee sounds more melodious

California Gnatcatcher

Source: @cincitiespics

• Scientific Name: Polioptila californica
• Family: Polioptilidae
• Length: 10.8 cm (4.3 in)
• Locality: California
• Life Span: 2 to 3 years

These non-migratory species of gnatcatchers are limited to California and Baja California. The chickadee that we think it is similar to is the Carolina Chickadee–let’s find out how.

This species of gnatcatchers have black crowns, tails and legs. Their upper wings and lower backs are bluish gray, with white puffy chest and underparts. These birds live in the coastal areas where large sagebrush and chaparral bushes grow. California gnatcatchers are found foraging in these scrub-growths.

California gnatcatchers thrive on insects such as leafhoppers, spiders, beetles, wasps and moths. They barely have seeds or berries. These tiny birds breed between late February and early August. They choose scrubs and bushes to build their nests in, usually 2.5 feet off the ground.

Call: Kitten’s meow, “zeer zeer”

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns
• White breasts
• Small beaks
• Bluish-gray upper wings and tail-parts

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The gnatcatcher lacks white cheeks and black bibs
• The gnatcatcher has completely black tails and white rings around eyes; Carolina chickadee has white parts in their tails and their eyes are totally black
• Carolina chickadee makes a “chick-a-dee-dee” sound, quite different to the sounds of the gnatcatcher
• California gnatcatcher has a very different habitat and feeding habits

Black-Capped Gnatcatcher

Source: @razingarizona

• Scientific Name: Polioptila nigriceps
• Family: Polioptilidae
• Length: 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in)
• Locality: Mexico, Arizona
• Life Span: 3 to 4 years

Black-caped gnatcatchers are non-migratory birds that have stayed limited to Mexico, but now a large population is visible in Arizona as well. These light-weight songbirds are comparable to black-capped chickadees.

These gnatcatchers have black caps, black tails, and black ends in their upper wings. Their throat region is puffy white. The rest of the body is bluish-white. Pine-oak woodlands, riparian woodlands and mesquite thickets are places where they are highly visible.

They are mostly gleaning through shrubs and other thick, dry vegetation for insects. Small arthropods seem to be their only diet. Pairs breed between March and July. They make cup-shaped nests with twigs gelled with spider silk, fixated on the branches of low vegetation.

Call: Rambling and mewing

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns
• Bluish-gray upper wings
• Black eyes
• White breast and belly regions
• White cheeks

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black-capped gnatcatcher lacks a black throat and are darker overall
• Gnatcatchers have black feet. Chickadees have bluish-gray feet.
• Gnatcatchers have longer, more pointed, nail-like bills
• Gnatcatchers have a very different habitat
• Gnatcatchers are mainly carnivores; chickadees are more omnivores
• Chickadees have a more melodious voice; gnatcatchers ramble and mew

Warbler Similar to Chickadee

Warblers are perching birds that are tiny but are quite vocal. Most of the ones listed below are insectivores, except for Middendorff’s Grasshopper species that will occasionally go for something plant-based as well.

For these reasons, we have listed some warblers as birds similar to chickadee. We have included both the similarities and differences.

Blackpoll Warbler

Source: @warbling_in_the_woods

• Scientific Name: Setophaga Striata
• Family: Parulidae
• Length: 12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in)
• Locality: Northern parts of North America, Northern parts of South America
• Life Span: 8 years

This species of new-world warblers are mainly found in the Canadian boreal forests. During the winters, these passerines migrate to South America flying non-stop for 75 hours! We have found this species quite similar to the black-capped chickadees.

Blackpoll warblers have a solid-black crown and black eyes. They have white cheeks and a short, sharp beak. These warblers can live almost everywhere–woodlands, thickets, coniferous forests, treetops, and mangrove forests. They can survive in -3 degrees of conditions.

Blackpoll warblers are basically insectivores. Lice, cankerworms, termites, aphids and sawflies are their favorites. Blackpoll Warblers commence their breeding season from early May till June. Nests are built on tree trunks 0.5 to 30 feet off the ground.

Call: Brief and quick ‘chips’; ‘tsit tsit tsit’ sounds

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns, black eyes, bluish-black upper wings
• White cheeks, white breasts
• Sharp and short bills

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The warbler lacks a black throat
• The warbler’s bill is brown in color; chickadee’s bill is black
• The warbler’s chest is white with black streaks; chickadee’s breast is white
• The upper wings of the warbler has brownish tone at the bottom; chickadee’s upper wings are just black and white
• The warbler has orange-streaked legs; chickadees have bluish-gray legs
• The warbler’s habitat and vocalizations are quite different

Black-Throated Gray Warbler

Source: @brrrder

• Scientific Name: Setophaga nigrescens
• Family: Parulidae
• Length: 13 cm (5.1 in)
• Locality: Western United States, Central America
• Life Span: 5 years

The black-throated gray warblers are found mainly in the western parts of the United States. They migrate to Mexico and further south during winters. This new world species of warblers looks a lot like the mountain chickadees from a distance.

Dressed in black and white, these passerines also have a little yellow spot in between their eyes. They have black crowns, eyes, and throats. These attractive looking warblers usually choose mixed forests of pine and oak woodlands. Scrubs and thickets could be an ideal spot too.

Black-throated gray warblers hop about carefully looking for insects in the thickets and shrubs, caterpillars being their all-time favorite. Breeding season starts in May and lasts till July. Nests are built on fir or oak trees using grass and moss, 3 to 35 feet off the ground.

Call: High -pitched ‘zee’ sound during breeding season

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns, black throats, black eyes, white cheeks
• Short, sharp bill
• White chest and belly regions
• Black streaks on the upper wings

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The warbler has a yellow spot on its forehead that chickadees do not have
• The black and white contrast is more vivid on the warbler’s body
• The warbler’s body appears to be longer horizontally
• Warblers are mostly insectivores; mountain chickadees are omnivores

Black and White Warbler

Source: @birdnerdphotogs

• Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia
• Family: Parulidae
• Length: 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in)
• Locality: North-Eastern United States, Canada, Central and South America
• Life Span: 6 years

Black and white warblers are birds similar to chickadee in many ways. They are new world warblers that are often termed as ‘creepers’ because they can climb trees like an expert using their back claws. We have compared these warblers to mountain chickadees.

The plumage is black and white only. They have a black cap and black throat, with intermittent white stripes. There are black and white markings all over. Mixed forests of deciduous and conifers are their favorite foraging and nesting places. Riparian forests and mangroves are also frequented by these avians.

Insects are top in their menu of appetizers. They usually feed on larvae, moths, flies, beetles and leafhoppers when they breed and migrate. These birds mate during the spring season between April and May. Nests are built on the ground using grass and pine needles.

Call: Repetitive ‘wee see’ notes, high-pitched

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns and throats
• Short and pointed bills
• Black markings on the white plumage
• Mixed forests are a chosen habitat of chickadees too

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• Mountain chickadees have a black ring around their eyes, black-and-white warblers have a white ring around their eyes
• Black and white markings are quite prominent on the warbler’s plumage
• The warbler’s bill is longer and slightly hooked
• The warbler is an insectivores; chickadees are omnivores
• The calls of warblers are quite different than those of mountain chickadees

Bay-Breasted Warbler

Source: @mactavish.andrew

• Scientific Name: Setophaga castanea
• Family: Parulidae
• Length:  13 to 15 cm (5 to 6 in)
• Locality: North-Eastern North America, Parts of South America
• Life Span: 3 years

Bay-breasted warblers are another beautiful New World species of warblers. They are found in abundance in the Canadian forests from where they migrate to the Appalachian mountains. We have found them to be quite similar to the chestnut-backed chickadees.

The crowns, throats and flanks of these birds are a rich chestnut. The face, eyes and beaks are black, with a white chest and belly. Wings are black and white. Coniferous trees like fir and spruce are the usual nest-building sites. During migration they are more visible in woodlands and forest edges.

Bay-breasted warblers are insectivores. They glean insects out of low vegetation. Spiders and budworms are their favorite munchies. Cup-shaped nests are built at the lower parts or bottom of spruce or fir trees using spider silk. They breed between April and May.

Call: Thin, high-pitched sounds similar to ‘seetzy seetzy’; chips and ‘ti ti ti’

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Chestnut to brown colored crowns and throats
• Black eyes
• Chestnut flanks
• Black and white stripes on the upper wings
• Conifer trees are a favorite nest-building spot of chestnut-backed chickadees too

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• Chestnut chickadees have more brownish tone to their crowns and throats
• The warbler lacks the white cheeks of the chickadees
• Black and white stripes are more vivid on the warbler’s upper wings
• The chickadees have a chestnut back; the warbler has a black and white one
• The warblers are totally insectivores; chickadees like fruits and seeds too
• The warbler’s calls are quite different than those of chickadees

Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler

Source: @markeenorman

• Scientific Name: Helopsaltes ochotensis
• Family: Locustellidae
• Length: 15.5 cm (6.1 in)
• Locality: Extreme West of North America, United States
• Life Span: 1 to 5 years

Because of their olive tone, mixed with various other colors, these Old-World warblers camouflage themselves like a pro. In our opinion, there are some similarities between this bird and the boreal chickadee.

Middendorff’s grasshopper warblers have a brown crown, with different shades of brown on their flanks and on their upper wings. They have a white chest. These adorable looking birds have found their nesting and foraging grounds in the wetlands, swamps and freshwater lakes.

These warblers usually feed on spiders, insects and molluscs. Occasionally they may reach out for berries too. The breeding season of these exquisite looking warblers is between May and July. The birds make well-hidden nests on the ground.

Call: Warbles and quiet ‘chit’ sounds; also audible ‘drrtt chit chit cherwee cherwee’

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Brown colored crowns and flanks
• White chests
• Both are tiny birds, around the same size

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The warbler is missing the white cheeks and the black bibs of the chickadee
• The warbler has orange legs; the chickadee has bluish-gray legs
• The warbler’s upper wings are brown; the chickadee has bluish-black wings
• The habitat of the warblers are quite different

Swallow Similar to Chickadee

Swallows are passerines that possess a streamlined body. This helps them to glide and catch prey while in flight. We have considered the Northern rough-winged swallows and the cave swallows to be birds similar to chickadee.

Their body color is the main reason they are in this list. If you could not tell the difference between these two birds, this segment will help you.

Northern Rough-Winged Swallow

Source: @kellylynnmercer

• Scientific Name: Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Family: Hirundinidae
• Length: 13 to 15 cm (5.1 to 5.9 in)
• Locality: Entire United States, Central America
• Life Span: 5.9 years

Northern rough-winged swallows are called rough-winged because their outer wings are slightly serrated or barbed. This North-American bird looks a lot like the chestnut-backed chickadee from a distance. Let’s explore the similarities.

The swallows have a muddy-grayish brown crown, with the same color seeping through their backs. Black and brown intermittent patterns decorate the wings. Water bodies like waterfalls and creeks, mangrove forests, marshes, and even arable lands are frequented by these birds.

These rough-winged swallows are primarily insectivores and thrive on wasps, beetles, caterpillars and spiders. The breeding season is between May and July. These swallows like to dig burrows in soil banks to nest in. Holes in caves and trees are also used.

Call: Short and harsh-sounding ‘zeeps’; metallic, low-pitched ‘bzzt’ are also audible

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Muddy-brown crowns, brown throats
• Chestnut brown backs and upper wings with black stripes
• Short beaks and white chests

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The swallow is missing white cheeks and brown throat
• The chestnut color on the chickadee’s back is more vivid
• Black and brown pattern on the swallow’s wings are more striking
• Habitat and diet of the swallow are quite different

Cave Swallow

Source: @birdinginflorida

• Scientific Name: Petrochelidon fulva
• Family: Hirundinidae
• Length: 12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in)
• Locality: Middle of the United States
• Life Span: 4 years

These species of the Hirundinidae family are called cave swallows because of their choice of the site where they build their nests, ie, caves. We have found these birds to be quite similar looking to the chestnut-backed chickadees.

The swallows have black crowns, beaks and eye patches. They have a chestnut face, throat and lower wings. Bluish-gray patterns mark the wings. The cave swallows, as described earlier, choose caves, man-made culverts and sink-holes as their sweet homes.

Though they live in caves, they forage in open areas and near cliffs. During the breeding season, they like to forage in colonies mainly for insects.  Breeding season of these beautiful brown birds occurs between April and August. Nests are built using mud and bat excrements and are reused.

Call: Squeaks with ‘gua’ and ‘nock’ sounds; nasal ‘chee’, ‘choo’ and chatters

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Brown and black crowns, chestnut underparts, chestnut backs
• Black eyes
• White belly and chest regions
• Bluish-black wings

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The cave swallows do not have white cheeks and black or brown throats
• The swallows have a bluish-black back; the chickadee has a chestnut back
• The swallows have a very different habitat and vocalizations

Flycatcher Similar to Chickadee

Certain species of flycatcher birds, from a distance, resemble the chickadee birds. The species listed here have black-and-white colors on their wings that interplay to enhance their appearance.

However, the vocalizations of the flycatchers might help to distinguish between the two. Let’s know more about flycatchers and where they stand in contrast to the chickadees.

American Gray Flycatcher

Source: @jgrebeee

• Scientific Name: Empidonax wrightii
• Family: Tyrannidae
• Length: 15 cm (5.9 in)
• Locality: Western North America
• Life Span: 1 to 10 years

American Gray Flycatchers, also called gray flycatchers, have a dull black cap, and furry grayish-olive back. They have a white outline around their beady black eyes giving them a ‘spectacled’ look.

Attractive black and white intermittent patterns are prominent on their lower back wings. The tails have white edges, and the under parts are a dull yellow. According to us, these flycatchers resemble the Boreal chickadees from a distance.

Pine forests are frequented by these flycatchers. Shrubs and open woodlands are their favorable nesting places too. Insects and other tiny-sized invertebrates are the main item on their list of appetizers.They stay perched patiently, and swoop down at the sight of prey.

May to the middle of August witnesses the breeding season of these flycatchers. Sagebrush or bitterbrush are usually chosen to make nests into. Nests are constructed using grasses and bark pieces.

Call: Sounds like ‘chew-eep’, ‘wi-lip’, or ‘seep’ are usually audible

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Light brown crown, white cheeks, black eyes
• Small beaks, white chest and belly
• Brown back
• Bluish-black and white intermittent pattern down their lower backs

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The flycatcher lacks black eye patch and black throat
• The flycatcher is missing chestnut-brown coloration on its flanks
• The flycatcher eat only insects; Boreal chickadees prefer fruits too
• Vocalizations of the flycatchers are quite different

Least Flycatcher

Source: @andrew.parkin2018

• Scientific Name: Empidonax minimus
• Family: Tyrannidae
• Length: 12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in)
• Locality: Almost all of North America, Central America
• Life Span: 6 to 8 years

Least flycatchers, also known as ‘chebeks’ because of the sound they make, are the smallest of their type in the eastern part of North America. These small-sized avians have olive-gray tones on their back, and may look golden or auburn at different angles of sunlight.

Least flycatchers flaunt a brown cap, and brown flight wings and tails. White stripes run down their rear, and their chest and belly are puffy white. We find these species of flycatcher quite similar to Boreal chickadees. We will soon find out how.

These tiny birds similar to chickadees have found their home in the middle of orchards, open woods and shades, and clusters of aspens. They are also found exploring in mixed forests of conifers and deciduous trees. Flycatchers will of course go for flies, as well as caterpillars, midges, beetles and wasps.

The breeding season of these birds lies between August and September. The nests are constructed 10-20 feet above the ground on a small tree or shrubby growth.

Call: Harsh ‘chebek’ by the males; females may produce sounds like ‘chweep’

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Brown caps, black beady eyes
• Small and sharp beaks
• Brown backs
• Similar habitat

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The flycatcher lacks a black throat and a black patch across the eyes
• The flycatcher has a white ring around its eyes; chickadees wear black specs
• The flycatcher is missing bluish-gray upper wings like the Boreal chickadee
• The flycatcher does not have chestnut brown flanks like the chickadee
• Least flycatchers are insectivores; chickadees are omnivores
• Call sounds of the flycatcher is quite different

Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Source: @kvanderleek

• Scientific Name: Contopus cooperi
• Family: Tyrannidae
• Length: 18 to 20 cm (7.1 to 7.9 in)
• Locality: North-Western United States, Canada, Central and South America
• Life Span: 7 years

From afar, the mohawks and the watery olive-white feathers of these flycatchers will remind you of the Mexican chickadees. These swift flying avians fly all the way from the south to North America for breeding purposes.

The olive-sided flycatchers have puffy black mohawk-like crowns, with shiny black eyes. There is a white necklace-like stripe around their throats, accompanied with white chest and belly. From a distance the birds look black, gray and white, and upon closer inspection, the olive feathers show their true colors.

Temperate and coniferous forests witness these amazing looking creatures as frequent visitors or permanent inhabitants. They like elevated lands, and they make sure that there are water sources nearby. Insects like beetles and grasshoppers are their favorite munchies, but they also go for fruits during migration.

Call: Sounds resemble the three words ‘quick, three bears’; squeaks and pips

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black mohawk crowns, black eyes, black beaks
• Black and white patches on the lower parts of their wings
• White chest and belly regions
• Coniferous forests are habitats of both the birds

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The flycatcher is missing black throats and bluish-black wings of the chickadees
• The flycatcher does not have white cheeks and chestnut-brown chest
• The flycatcher has a longer beak than the chickadees
• Vocalizations of the flycatcher is quite different

Great Kiskadee

Source: @keno_photo

• Scientific Name: Pitangus sulphuratus
• Family: Tyrannidae
• Length: 25 to 28 cm (9.8 to 11 in)
• Locality: Central and South America
• Life Span: 6 years

Bearing an ancestral origin in Brazil and Argentina, the great kiskadees fall within the Tyrannidae family of flycatchers. Although these flycatchers are much larger, due to certain physical features we have found this bird to be similar to the black-capped and mountain chickadees.

The great kiskadee has a black crown having a slight ‘mohawk’ touch to it. The bird also flaunts a solid black patch across the eyes, with a white stripe separating the cap from the eyes. The throat regions are white. The two striking features of these birds are the yellow breast and the brown upper wings and tails.

The great kiskadees prefer to forage and nest in areas where there are water sources, like streams and rivers, nearby. The kiskadees usually forage on insects like lizards and beetles, and even small birds and fish. These birds breed between March and May, building their nests at the top of trees.

Call: Loud, harsh sounds resembling ‘bee-tee-wee’

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns, black eye patches, black eyes
• White stripe in the middle of the crown and eyes
• White cheeks

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The kiskadee lacks a black throat
• The kiskadee’s beak is much longer and larger than the chickadees
• The chest and belly of the kiskadee is yellow; in chickadees it is white

Other Birds Similar to Chickadee

Last but not the least, in this segment, we have listed out certain species of woodpeckers, vireos, mockingbirds and nuthatches that look similar to chickadees. Their black-crowns and white or off-white chest regions are the main reason they resemble chickadees from a distance.

Read the similarities and differences below to distinguish between the birds.

Downy Woodpecker

Source: @s__birds

• Scientific Name: Dryobates pubescens
• Family: Picidae
• Length: 25 to 31 cm (9.8 to 12.2 in)
• Locality: Much of North America
• Life Span: 2 to 3 years

At a closer look, the downy woodpeckers resemble the mountain chickadees, the reason why this species of woodpecker has been included in the list. Downy woodpeckers are quite bossy to say the least– it will raise its mohawk-like crown and fan its tails to scare the intruders and predators away.

These woodpeckers have a black crown, black eye-patch, with a characteristic white stripe running between the crest and the eyes. Their flight feathers are gorgeous– black background with white spots and stripes. Downy woodpeckers also have a bright red spot at the back of their heads that cannot be missed even from miles away.

Downies are omnivores and will eat anything between insects, fruits and even bird-feeders in backyards. This species of woodpeckers usually reside in deciduous forests. They breed between April and May. Nests are built within tree cavities that they make themselves by pecking at soft, rotting tree barks with their strong bills.

Call: Drumming noises; rattle, squeaks, screeches and chirps are also heard

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns, black eye-patch, black eyes, black beaks
• White cheeks, white chest and belly
• Deciduous trees are a habitat for both the birds
• Feeding habits are similar

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The woodpecker is missing a black throat
• The woodpecker has a bright red spot on the back of its head
• The woodpecker has white rings around its eyes; the chickadees have black rings
• The wings of a woodpecker is vivid black and white; chickadees have bluish-gray backs
• The woodpeckers have a black tail; mountain chickadees have a bluish-gray tail
• Matings calls of the downy woodpecker are quite different

Black-Capped Vireo

Source: @holtz_photo

• Scientific Name: Vireo atricapilla
• Family: Vireonidae
• Length: 12 cm (4.5 in)
• Locality: Central United States, Parts of Central America
• Life Span: 5 to 6 years

This species of the Vireonidae family, frequently sighted in Mexico, have been found by researchers to be quite affectionate toward one another. During the nesting and incubation times, the male and the female both share the hard work, a behavior which is uncommon in the wild.

The black-capped vireos are quite similar in appearance to the mountain chickadees due to their black and white look. These birds have a black cap, and the rear side of their head is also black. The lower parts of their flight feathers have criss-crosses of black and white.

Scrub oak trees and sumac plants are the favorite habitats of the black-capped vireos. They like living among dense trees, but they also like sunlight reaching their nests, so at times they choose scattered vegetation. These birds like caterpillars and grasshoppers and also berries and fruits. They breed between April and August.

Call:Rapid twitters, tones may fluctuate

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns, small black beaks
• White chest and belly regions
• White stripes along the upper wings
• Both are omnivores

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The vireo has a white patch around its eyes; chickadees have a black patch; the white stripe of the chickadees run between the crown and the eyes
• The vireo lacks a black throat
• The upper wings of the vireo is black and white; in chickadees, it is bluish-black
• The calls of the vireo are quite different

Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Source: @huffstuff06

• Scientific Name: Sitta canadensis
• Family: Sittidae
• Length: 11 cm (4.5 in)
• Locality: Entire United States
• Life Span: 6 years

These birds perform irruption–an unusual form of migration. They usually breed and forage in the north, but due to harsh conditions or crisis of food, may decide to migrate to the south in a non-migratory season. We have chosen this bird to be in the list because they look a lot like, you guessed it, the mountain chickadees.

These nuthatches have orange colored (light reddish) belly regions that remind us of boreal chickadees too. The birds have a black crown and black eye-patches. The beaks are short, and have a white and black appearance. Their feathers are bluish-black, with criss-crosses of white and black playing at the lower sides.

They primarily live in the conifer woods, but due to their tendency to irrupt, their habitat choices may fluctuate between other types of trees and vegetation. These birds can climb up and down trees with ease, and forage on mainly insects during the summers. In winters, they prefer sunflower seeds. They breed between April and August.

Call: Nasal and high-pitched tin trumpets

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Black crowns, black eye patches, black beaks
• White stripe between the crown and the eyes, white cheeks
• Brownish belly like the boreal chickadees
• Bluish-black feathers
• They are both omnivores

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The nuthatch lacks a black throat
• The nuthatch has a longer bill
• The black and white coloration of the feathers is more vivid in the nuthatch
• The nuthatch has a shorter tail than the mountain chickadee
• Vocalizations of the nuthatch differ from those of the chickadees

Northern Mockingbird

Source: @birdie_bach

• Scientific Name: Mimus polyglottos
• Family: Mimidae
• Length: 20.5 to 28 cm (8.1 to 11.0 in)
• Locality: United States, Central America
• Life Span: 8 years

They are called mockingbirds for a reason–they can mimic the voice of many other birds like the tufted titmouse, blue jay and the Carolina wrens. Though they mimic, these birds are famous for their melodious voices. At a glance, these birds quite resemble the gray–headed chickadees, thus they got their name in the list.

Northern mockingbirds have bluish-gray crowns, black beady eyes, and white chests. Their bills are short and shiny black. These birds have some exquisite looking features– dark brownish-gray on the upper parts, more blue as you go down. The intermittent black and white stripes on the flight feathers are a sight to behold.

Long grass, shrubby growths and open grounds are frequented by these species of mockingbirds. They do not like shifting from one place to another so they have often been spotted at the same place all year round. Between April and July, these birds mate. The females build the nests and the males guard the nests with all sincerity.

Call: Whistles, raspy chirps, harsh trills

Similarities in comparison to Chickadee:

• Dark crowns, black eyes, black beaks
• White chest and belly regions
• Chestnut -brown shades on their throat and abdomen regions
• Bluish-gray feathers
• Both the birds are omnivores

Differences in comparison to Chickadee:

• The mockingbird lacks a dark bib and a black eye patch
• The mockingbird has white rings around eyes; chickadees have black eye-rings
• The mockingbirds has bluish-gray back; the chickadee has a brown upper back
• The mockingbirds have longer tails
• The vocalizations of the mockingbirds are quite different

FAQ

Bird watchers always have some general questions as to how they are going to tell the difference between similar looking birds. Sparrows, swallows, and warblers are birds similar to chickadee–in fact they resemble each other so much it gets almost impossible to tell them apart.

Below are some FAQ’s that will assist you to brush up your knowledge about the similarities and differences between other birds and chickadee.

Q: What birds similar to chickadee have a long beak?

Ans: Downy woodpeckers and the Great Kiskadee birds listed above have longer beaks than chickadees, though from a distance, they are difficult to distinguish.

Q: Are flycatcher birds similar to chickadee?

Ans: Yes, several flycatcher birds are similar to chickadee. The ones we have included are the American Gray, Olive-Sided, Least, and the Great Kiskadee flycatchers. The head region of these birds that contain black caps, white stripes, black eyes patches and black beaks are often the reason why they look so similar to chickadees.

Q: Are gnatcatcher birds similar to chickadee?

Ans: Yes, there are some gnatcatchers that look quite similar to chickadee birds owing to their black caps, small size, small beaks, and white chest regions. The ones we have listed are the California and the Black-Tailed gnatcatchers.

Q: How to tell the difference between birds similar to chickadee?

Ans: Observe the bird’s body size, color, what it eats and where it lives. If you spot a bird with a black crown and puffy white breasts looking for fish in marshlands, you can be sure it is not a chickadee. A bird that is small but eats only insects may not be a chickadee, because chickadees are omnivores.

All chickadees have a black or dark brown crown, black throat, black eye patches, black rings around their eyes, and they have subtle body colors. Not a single chickadee bird has bright red or yellow colors. And remember their vocalizations —chick-a-dee-dee-dee!

Thoughts

There are many birds similar to chickadee. Bird enthusiasts have been suffering in an age-old dilemma for decades – how to tell similar looking birds apart? Look at the warblers, swallows, sparrows and the vireos for instance! They are mostly tiny with small beaks, living in mixed forests having more or less the same diet.

In order to distinguish between other small birds and chickadee, take a closer look for the presence of black crowns and black bibs. All chickadees have these two features.

In addition, chickadees have black eyes, small black beaks, and subtle feather colors playing between light bluish-black and brown. They never have bright yellow, red or purple features. Knowledge of how chickadees look in general will definitely help you to tell them apart from other similar looking avians.