Size:

Length:5-6 in

ID:

Male: Slate gray above in summer; black breast patch in inverted U pattern; yellow patch on crown, below each wing and on rump; two white wing bars; white chin, belly, and patches on the sides of the neck and throat; black streaking on sides, wings and back; white eyebrows; black under eye and on cheek; feet anisodactylous (three toes point forward and one toe points backward) anddark; beak thin and sharp; slate gray area becomes brownish in winter
Female and Juvenile: May have same yellow patches but duller than male; brownish

Habitat:

Coniferous or mixed woodlands; parks and gardens; dense shrubbery

Diet:

Insects (moths, beetles, wasps, flies) and spiders; berries and fruit; might come to feeders for suet and peanut butter

Family Behavior:

Mating Habits:Monogamous and solitary; 2 broods per year

Local Breeding Period: Mid-April
Nests:Cup shaped made of bark, twigs, and roots, lined with feathers; built by female in conifer on horizontal branches; building process takes a week.
Eggs: 4-5 white with brown and gray markings; female incubates 12-13 days
Nestlings: Born altricial (helpless, naked, eyes closed) and stay in nest 10-12 days; fed by both parent

Social Activities:

Solitary or in pairs; gregarious in winter, joining mixed flocks

Range:

Summers northern North Americas; winters in southern US and Central America

Vocalization:

Slow warble or musical trill that falls or rises at the end; call is chip or check