The Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile
atricapillus - is a small, North American bird in the tit family. It is the
state bird of Massachusetts.
The black-capped chickadee is found from coast to coast, from the northern half
of the United States in the
south, to James Bay, the southern edge of the Northwest
Territories and the Yukon, and
the southern half of Alaska
in the north. In winter it may wander outside of this range, both to the north
and south. Its preferred habitat is mixed woods. It is also found in open
woods, parks, and suburban areas. On cold winter nights, these birds reduce
their body temperature by up to 10–12 °C (from their normal temperature of
about 42 °C) to conserve energy.
Description
The Black-capped Chickadee has a
black cap and bib with white sides to the face. Its underpants are white with
rusty brown on the flanks. Its back is gray and the tail is normally
slate-gray. Sexes look alike, but males are slightly larger and longer than
females.
Call
The vocalizations of the
Black-capped Chickadee are highly complex. Chickadees' complex vocalizations
are likely an evolutionary adaptation to their habitat: they live and feed in
dense vegetation, and even when the flock is close together, individual birds
tend to be out of each others' visual range. The song of the Black-capped is a
simple, clear whistle of two notes, identical in rhythm, the first roughly a
third above the second. The most familiar call is the familiar chick-a-dee-dee-dee
which gave this bird its name.
Food
Insects (especially caterpillars)
form a large part of their diet in summer. The birds hop along tree branches
searching for food, sometimes hanging upside down or hovering; they may make
short flights to catch insects in the air. Seeds and berries become more
important in winter, though insect eggs and pupae remain on the menu. Black oil
sunflower seeds are readily taken from bird feeders. At bird feeders during the
winter many individuals will readily accept seed from a person's hand.
Breeding
The Black-capped Chickadee nests
in a hole in a tree, 1–7 m above ground. The pair either excavates the hole
together, or uses a natural cavity, or sometimes an old woodpecker nest. This
species will also nest in a nesting box. The nesting season is from late April
through June. The nest is built by the female only. Eggs are white with fine
dots of reddish brown concentrated at the larger end. Clutch size is 6-8 eggs.
Incubation lasts 11 to 14 days and is by the female only, who is fed by the
male. Young leave the nest 12 to 16 days after hatching. They will still be fed
by the parents for several weeks but are capable of catching food on their own
within a week after leaving the nest.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
The population is stable or
increasing in nearly all regions.
Bird watching
Chickadees may be found in any
habitat that has trees or woody shrubs, from forests and woodlots to
residential neighborhoods and parks, and sometimes weedy fields and cattail
marshes. They frequently nest in birch or alder trees. Within their range, Black-capped
chickadees are easily seen at many feeding stations, and in virtually any area
with trees. They are often heard before they’re seen. They’re frequently
attracted to investigate birders making pishing sounds. Once you’ve learned
this bird’s calls, listen for them and then look for the flocks they travel in.
Warblers and other migrating songbirds associate with chickadees and by looking
through the chickadees you’re more likely to find these other species as well.
Massachusetts Hotspots
Plum Island
and Parker River Refuge
Mount Auburn
Cemetery
North Monomoy
Island and South Beach
Fannie Stebbins
Sanctuary
Joppa Flats
Salisbury Beach
Silvia O. Conte
NWR
Great Meadows NWR
Berkshires
Preserves
Connecticut River Valley
The Islands Preserves
Southeastern
Mass. & Cape Cod
Pleasant Valley
Wildlife Sanctuary