It could well be a bird with reduced melanin production, which results in brown rather than black coloration. Here are some links to posts on the subject (including in chickadees):
https://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/08/abnormal-coloration-in-birds-melanin-reduction/ https://www.sibleyguides.com/bird-info/black-capped-chickadee/gray-headed-chickadee-or-pale-black-capped/ https://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/brown-headed%20chickadee.htm David Steingraeber Fort Collins ________________________________ From: 'Kathy Miller' via Colorado Birds <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, July 9, 2021 2:29 PM To: Barbara Spagnuolo <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [cobirds] chickadee with brown cap (Douglas County) My 8 that fledged this summer did not look different than adults, and neither did the 5 we had in rehab that I released. I have never seen a MOCH look like your pics. That being said, we did have a nestful of robins that all 5 of them had more white markings on them than typical for robins last summer.... Kathy Miller Colo springs rehab assistant On Jul 8, 2021, at 9:08 AM, Barbara Spagnuolo <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: An individual living near downtown Castle Rock, Douglas County, recently noticed strange-looking chickadees in her backyard. The two birds are definitely chickadees but the adult seems to be missing plumage on its head, as if it’s molting, but definitely has a black chin. The adult has been seen feeding a juvenile chickadee with markings that resemble a mix of Mountain Chickadee and Boreal Chickadee. The juvenile clearly has a black chin, black eye patch, white eyebrow, brown cap and brown scapulars. It just looks like a MOCH x BOCH hybrid, which is highly unlikely but I can’t find any documentation of Mountain Chickadee fledglings with brown caps. But here are a few pics of the juvenile. The sighting is in a residential backyard just east of historic downtown Castle Rock, elevation approximately 6202’ with lots of tall spruces, junipers, chokecherry shrubs and other mature vegetation. Do Mountain Chickadee fledglings have brown caps? <image005.png> <image006.png> Barbara Spagnuolo, Castle Rock, Douglas County -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. 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