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News and Activities
Deformed Chickadees in Alaska Date Posted: January 1, 2007 Since January 1998, nearly 1,500 Black-capped Chickadees with abnormal beaks have been identified in south-central Alaska. This is the highest concentration of such abnormalities ever recorded in a wild bird population anywhere! More recently, rapidly increasing numbers of other species, including Downy Woodpeckers, Northwestern Crows, Stellerﾒs Jays, and Black-billed Magpies have also been reported with beak deformities by biologists and local residents throughout the state.Sightings often involve 2-3 deformed individuals together, but up to 20 abnormal individuals have occurred at a single location. The birds have difficulty feeding normally and are living largely on suet and peanut butter at residential bird feeders.An investigation to determine the cause of these abnormal chickadee bills has been funded cooperatively by the Service and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) - Biological Resources Division. Diagnostic tests were conducted to look for any evidence of disease, physical injury, parasites, or exposure to contaminants. Genetic analysis is also being performed to determine whether groups of affected individuals are siblings that were exposed to the same harmful variable, or whether the deformities are genetically linked. No evidence of disease, parasites or fractures of the bone underlying the sheath of the bill have been found. Nearly all of the species affected are year-round residents, and it is suspected that factors responsible for this cluster of deformities may be unique to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. The Service and USGS are currently pursuing additional studies to determine where these deformities are occurring and why. Two reports have been published to date. Links to the documents are provided, below.
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