GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in 
tags: mystery bird, identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapilla, photographed near a small Olympic Peninsula lake in Shelton, Washington State. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Lee Rentz, 19 February 2009.
As an added bonus, can you name the close relatives to today's mystery bird that are found in Finland?
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
The closest relatives to the pictured bird that live in Finland are [English name, Finnish name, Scientific name];
Willow Tit, Hömötiainen, Poecile montanus
Marsh Tit, Viitatiainen, Poecile palustris
Siberian (Grey-headed) Tit, Lapintiainen, Poecile cinctus
more distant relatives include;
Great Tit, Talitiainen, Parus major
Azure Tit, Valkopäätiainen, Parus cyanus
Coal Tit, Kuusitiainen, Periparus ater
Eurasian Blue Tit, Sinitiainen, Cyanistes caeruleus
Crested Tit, Töyhtötiainen, Lophophanes cristatus
Long-tailed Tit, Pyrstötiainen, Aegithalos caudatus
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Comments
Almost automatically said chestnut-backed, but I think it's a black-capped chickadee. Buff sides, not brown and, black, rather than dark brown cap.
Posted by: billp | July 5, 2009 11:23 AM
I assume the Finish relative you refer to is the Willow Tit, which is awfully similar looking. (Also like the Marsh Tit, but I don't think that's found in Finland.)
Posted by: SimonG | July 5, 2009 11:54 AM
Nah, the willow tit is cuter.
:-)
Posted by: Bob O'H | July 5, 2009 3:13 PM
I agree, it's a black-capped chickadee. That black cap and bib are diagnostic for the black-capped chickadee, and the buff sides immediately exclude the chestnut-backed chickadee.
As for a close Finnish relative, the willow tit, marsh tit, and Siberian tit would qualify.
Posted by: Hai~Ren | July 6, 2009 5:42 AM
Definitely a chickadee, for the reasons noted above and its general tiny cuteness. The Finnish ones are Juhani and Maria.
Posted by: The Ridger | July 6, 2009 6:51 AM