The black-capped chickadee is universally adored as a feeder guest. Learn more about their song, nest and more.
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What Does a Black-Capped Chickadee Look Like?
Meet the black-capped chickadee, a beginner backyard birder’s dream. The small songbirds are considerably curious about humans and comfortable in our presence, which makes them some of the first birds people learn about. They are often first to find a feeder, and once they identify a regular food supply, they will be frequent guests.
Steve Kolbe, an avian ecologist at the Natural Resources Research Institute, which is part of the University of Minnesota Duluth, describes black-capped chickadees as curious, bold, resourceful and tough. “They’re always in motion and busy,” he says.
Online birding communities call this bird a borb—a word describing a bird as a round, rotund cutie. Black-capped chickadees sport a signature black cap and chin, with bright white cheeks and belly. Their gray backs and feathers stand out against pale, buffy sides.
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Male vs Female Chickadees
“How do you tell male and female black-capped chickadees apart?” ask Birds & Blooms readers Hannah and Lily Ashdown of Schuylerville, New York.
Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “Male and female black-capped chickadees look identical, at least to humans, so behavioral clues are the only ways to distinguish them. It’s mostly males that sing the signature fee-bee song. And, in aggressive encounters at bird feeders, males are usually dominant over females.
In gentler times, a male will feed his mate during courtship. Both members of a pair hollow out a nest cavity in a tree, then the female builds a nest inside and incubates the eggs. After the eggs hatch, the male brings most of the food to the nest at first, while the female tends to the hatchlings.”
What Do Black-Capped Chickadees Eat?
While black-capped chickadees tend to prefer insects, they’re not picky, which makes them excellent backyard feeder birds. Their diet consists of insects, berries and seeds.
Keep your backyard feeders clean and filled for these birds year-round. Set out suet, sunflower seeds and peanuts at home to keep these birds well fed. They’re incredible at survival, and even eat fat from carcasses of deer and other animals.
Tara Hohman, a conservation science manager with Audubon, has a few specific recommendations for those looking to bring in chickadees. “They like sunflower seeds, and they will also go for suet in the winter when they need the extra protein and fat,” she says. “Mealworms are also something they’ll go after, as well as peanut butter.”
As some birders might already know, black-capped chickadees tend to be quite curious about the world, and they’ll readily seize on new opportunities — including seed offered from a human’s hand.
“I think they’re social by nature, and some of that transfers over to how they interact with other birds, or other wildlife, or people,” Tara says, in explanation for why chickadees have a reputation of being so friendly. “They’re quick to study and learn that ‘I’ve had positive experiences with XYZ, therefore I’m fine with XYZ.’ Or, vice versa: ‘This was a negative experience, so I won’t do that anymore.'”
Chickadees Are Brainy Birds
Black-capped chickadees’ brain neurons die each autumn, making room for new information. Their brains may be super small, yet this impressive natural function helps them adapt to any changes in their social flocks, environments and food supplies.
Nest and Eggs
Pairs search for an already-created cavity nest and excavate it further to meet their needs. Nests are built with twigs and lined with hair. Breeding pairs may also be attracted to next boxes filled with sawdust and wood shavings. Six to eight white eggs with brown spots are housed inside.
On the subject of birdhouses, Tara says attracting nesting chickadees can be somewhat easier than bluebirds, or other species that use larger birdhouses and have to compete with house sparrows. “You can buy birdhouses that have a smaller entry hole, and that’ll work great for them,” she says. “You’ll be able to limit down to black-capped chickadees and wrens as the only species that’ll be able to fit in there.”
Black-Capped Chickadee Sounds and Song
“Chick-a-dee-dee-dee” is its recognizable call; however, Tara recommends listening for another. “Their more unique call that I would say helps distinguish them from, say, a Carolina chickadee, is that they have a three-part song,” she says. “The second part is broken. I always tell people they say ‘cheese-bur-ger.'”
Listen to the black-capped chickadee’s sounds.
Bird songs provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
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Range Map and Habitat
Black-capped chickadees do not migrate, instead opting for a territory where flocks are residents year-round. While different chickadee species can be found throughout most of this country, you can spot black-capped ones in the northern half of the United States. They are known to favor forests, but chickadees visit anywhere with trees, even cities.
Look for these birds in wooded residential areas and open woodlands. Grow native trees and plants to build a sustainable, supportive habitat. Birch, alder and willow trees are favorites. Make sure you have a fresh, running water source nearby and a regularly cleaned feeder.
Consider leaving stumps from felled trees to support your backyard’s ecosystem—and hold off on fall cleanup to build a robust insect community over winter. Insects, such as caterpillars, are especially critical for chicks in spring.
How Do Chickadees Survive Winter?
“Black-capped chickadees add enough fat every day during winter to live off of that fat overnight,” Steve says. And while they’re often sleeping in cavities when it’s cold, “there’s potential that the birds group together and roost communally to remain warm in winter,” he says. “Envision a cute, big ball of chickadees!”
About the Experts
Tara Hohman is the conservation science manager for Audubon Upper Mississippi Flyway. Her scientific work has included point count surveys and avian monitoring for species such as golden-cheeked warblers, piping plovers, and more. She holds a bachelor of science degree in wildlife biology from Texas State University, and a master of science degree in environmental science and policy from University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.
Steve Kolbe works as an avian ecologist at the Natural Resources Research Institute, which is part of the University of Minnesota Duluth. His research focuses on bird migration and movement. Steve has a master’s degree in integrated biosciences.
Sources
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, “Black-Capped Chickadee: Overview“
- Audubon Field Guide, “Black-Capped Chickadee“
