Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Summary
Chickadees, named for their “Chick-a-dee-dee!” call, are commonly seen at birdfeeders and urban environments like the SBG. Black-capped chickadees range across the entire northern half of the U.S. and extend far north into Canada. As cavity nesters, they will readily use nest boxes.
Learn more about black-capped chickadees here.
More Details
FAMILY
Paridae (Chickadees and Titmouses)
IDENTIFICATION
These small, cute birds are identified by their round heads with black caps and bibs and white cheeks. They are virtually identical in appearance to the closely related Carolina Chickadee, which is also found in Pennsylvania but primarily only in the southwest and southeast regions of the state. Only the Black-capped Chickadee is found at the SBG. These two species are best distinguished by their songs: The Black-capped Chickadee sings an even, “Fee-bee, fee-bee,” while the Carolina Chickadee sings a rising, “Fee-bee, fee-BAY!”
HABITAT
Black-capped Chickadees reside in forests, open woodlands, urban parks, suburban habitats. They are commonly seen at birdfeeders, especially in winter.
DIET
Black-capped Chickadees eat primarily insects and spiders during the breeding season, and in winter they consume a more even mix of animal matter and plant matter, including seeds, berries, arthropods, suet, and even flesh from dead animals.
Ecosystem Connections
Black-capped chickadees are social birds and frequently join mixed-species flocks that include other species such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, kinglets, warblers, and vireos. As these flocks move through an area looking for food, the members are more likely to find food and are better able to keep a lookout for predators.
The “Chick-a-dee-dee” call given by chickadees can serve as an alarm call, with a greater number of ‘dees’ indicating a greater threat. Other nearby birds take note of these alarm calls and react accordingly.