Southeast Birds

black capped chickadee

Description
The male Black-capped Chickadee is recognized by his black beak, black capped head, and black chin with white cheeks. Their chest and belly are white while their sides are a tan to orange color and their back is gray. His long tail feathers are gray and white striped. His wings are a dark gray to black with white stripes.

The female and juvenile are the same as the male.

They are very small birds at 4.5 to 6 inches long. They weigh about .3 to .5 ounces and have a wingspan of 6 to 8 inches.

Habitat

The Black-capped Chickadee is a residential bird found many different habitats including deciduous as well as mixed woodlands. They can also be found near thick or open woods and nest in the cavities of Birch or Alder trees. They are known to dig their own holes in rotted trees. Their nests are lined with grass, feathers, fur, moss and other soft materials.

Mostly found in the Northern Region of the United States and Southern regions of Canada, although can be found as far south as Tennessee in the East and New Mexico in the West.

They are also commonly found in backyards and feeders. Because they are one of the most curious birds around, they are usually the first bird you see when you enter an area.

Diet

Insects, spiders, and their larvae, are the main diet in the spring, summer and fall. Seeds and berries make up most of the Black-capped Chickadee’s diet in the winter. They are also commonly found at feeders eating sunflower seeds.

Facts

- The Chickadee has one of the most complex call systems of all birds. They have different calls for identifying flocks as well as individuals. Their warning calls have different threat levels, the more dees at the end of the call, the more dangerous the threat.

- Winter flocks usually contain other species, although the Chickadee is normally the most dominant.

- The Black-capped Chickadee will hide their seeds in thousands of different places and can remember each hiding place for as long as a month.

- Both the male and female Chickadee dig the cavity for their nest, however the female lines the inside.

- Chickadees often feed upside down while chasing insects on the underside of branches.

chickadee