Date: 2/25/26 4:40 am From: David Kreft via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Black-capped Chickadees sounding like Mountain Chickadees
I’ve had this experience in NE WA. Myself and a wildlife biologist friend
(who is very adept at distinguishing flycatcher vocalizations) were both
baffled by what we heard and just “knew” must be a Mountain chickadee, only
to have a Black-capped appear on a branch and show us the truth. Now, I
trust I’m hearing a chickadee…but I try my darndest to verify with visual.
Dave Kreft
Kettle Falls
On Tue, Feb 24, 2026 at 8:36 PM Louise via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> When in areas where both species are expected, I have definitely heard
> alarm calls that I would have sworn was mountain chickadee until I set eyes
> on the bird and watched that sound come from a black-capped. Several of
> those experiences have made me very reluctant to categorise them by heard
> only on e-bird.
>
> Louise Rutter
> Kirkland
>
> On Tue, Feb 24, 2026 at 8:11 PM Eric Ellingson via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I'm wondering if anyone knows much about Black-capped Chickadees sounding
>> like Mountain Chickadees. I seem to remember reading somewhere that if the
>> BCCH are raised near the MOCH they can pick up a "dialect". The reason I'm
>> asking is because two of the Bird Sound Identification apps have given me
>> MOCH when I definitely don't see them around in the Blaine, WA area. I'm
>> not saying it is improbable, just not expected.
>> Merlin has done this before and recently BirdNET gives a 89% confidence
>> rating. I have a good sonogram showing the sound. Anyway, ideas? Anyone
>> wanting the recording can DM me.
>>
>> Eric Ellingson
>>
>> 360-820-6396
>> <esellingson...>
>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ >> _______________________________________________
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