Well, first, one should assume that this is some form of
Chestnut-back, as finding a Boreal in this area are vanishingly
small, due to the highly sedentary nature & habitat preference of
this species. CBs can often have a brownish sheen to their caps in
certain lights, esp. the immatures but even in adults. AND the
chestnut of the sides & back of the CB is MUCH deeper and richer
brown than the pale wash of the Boreal. But the BEST and easiest way
to distinguish them is probably by voice. The "Chickadee" call of the
Boreal is VERY unlike the CB is pitch and timber. It is much lower
pitched, kinda slow and lazy and very buzzy, as opposed to the
high-pitched, more rapidly delivered calls of the CBs (which are also
somewhat buzzy) or the crisp, moderately-pitched calls of the
Black-capped. If you want to see Boreals in WA, hike down the trail
from Slate Peak into the Pasayten Wilderness -- they are easily found
there down in valley of the W. Fork Pasayten River-- one of the
wildest places left in our state!

Best wishes,

Mark

>The white on the face was very minimal, not the striking white of a
>chestnut-backed chickadee. Do the immature chestnut's have less
>white? I have chestnut-backed chickadees in my yard constantly, and
>this sure didn't look like one to me. But, I've never seen an
>immature...
>
>Marian Murdoch
>Belfair, WA
>marianmurdoch at yahoo.com
>
>=========================================
>
>From Ian:
>HI:
>how about young chestnut-backed chickadees?
>
>From Mary:
>Hi Marian,
>How 'bout Chestnut-backed Chickadee? They're fairly common around here


--
Mark Egger
Seattle, WA
USA
mailto:m.egger at comcast.net