My five-year-old son has a new hobby. Bird watching. About a week or so ago, once a day, he began telling me, “I’m going into the backyard to watch the birds.” Then he’ll proceed to sit quietly, completely still for 20-30 minutes, waiting for birds to appear.
Well, a few days ago, he excitedly ran into the house screaming, “Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy… there’s a new bird at the feeder! There’s a new bird at the feeder! And he’s really, really cute! He’s little and he has black and white stripes on his face. And he’s sooooo cute!!!”
I have to admit, he is pretty cute! A chickadee of some kind. Chestnut-backed? My son just loves to say “chickadee”. He’s a new favorite around here!
hike.wander.wonder 
Yes, Chestnut-backed in the only chickadee you are likely to see in the Bay area. For a list of common Bay area birds, see here – Common Birds of San Franscisco Bay Area.
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Thanks! I’ve bookmarked your page.
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My four year has just really gotten in to birdwatching this year, although he seems to prefer the larger ones, such as ducks and herons. Still, he is learning their names and how to identify them. It sounds as if your little guy is, too. I suggest buying him an inexpensive pair of child binoculars and a field journal! Good luck!
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Cute! Mine (he’s now five) loves the littler ones, like the finches, titmice, and chickadees. Though I do think his new love is the American Robin. We gave him a pair of binoculars quite a while ago… was he three? He uses them daily! And we do have a field journal. He loves this stuff! Great to hear there are more kids out there like him!
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They are vey similar to European Coal Tits, enormously sweet!
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These ones are sweet, too. Sweet looking, but also sweet natured. They seem to fit right in with the finches and titmice.
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The Chickadee is my favorite bird too.
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So tiny and cute!
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Great photo! You are lucky to have such a great bird watcher, as well! Great photo!
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Thanks! It’s fun watching his interests develop. Lego’s are still his number one love, quickly followed by Batman and Star Wars. But it’s great to see nature drawing him in, too!
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Thanks! It’s fun watching his interests develop. Lego’s are still his number one love, quickly followed by Batman and Star Wars. But it’s great to see nature drawing him in, too!
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In Britain birdwatchers are nicknamed “Twitchers”.
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I like that!
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Chestnut-backed chickadee! Chick-a-dee-dee-dee! Chick-a-dee-dee-dee!
Birdwatching is a big thrill for me, and I’ll be posting today, hopefully, with video and sounds, of what I think is a family of Bald Eagles, as well as some very upset woodpeckers and other beautiful songbirds.
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I’m looking forward to reading (and seeing) your bald eagle post! I had the opportunity to see a nesting bald eagle in the distance on a hike in the next town over on Saturday morning. The eagle was much too far to catch a photo (and I only had my iPhone on me!). So beautiful!!
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