


Right now you can get a free copy of our mini survival guide here, where you'll discover six key strategies for outdoor emergencies, plus often-overlooked survival tips.įind out about the courses offered at Alderleaf Wilderness College.Ĭheck out this great information page on the black-capped chickadee at.
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Predators such as pygmy owls, that regularly prey on small birds cause the greatest alarm among small birds.īy the way, when you're out birding, it's important to know how to stay safe in the outdoors, especially if you were to get lost. The more dee's added, the more dangerous the predator is. Specifically, the number of "dees" added to the end of the common chick-a-dee-dee-dee call points to how threatening the particular predator is to small birds like chickadees.

The level of threat the predator poses to a small bird will be reflected in the level of intensity and frequency of chickadee calls. Acrobats Bird Language Notesĭue to their vocal nature, chickadees are a great bird to pay attention to when you want to spot the predators in your area. For more information on two of the main predators of these small birds, check out Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cooper's Hawk: Agile Aerial. Larger predators such as great horned owls, large hawks, cougars and other large carnivores are not generally a threat to chickadees. PredatorsĬhickadees have a variety of predators, including northern pygmy owls, saw-whet owls, merlins, kestrels, Cooper’s hawks, Sharp-shinned hawks, house cats, weasels and other predators that eat small birds.

They are also bold in their behavior towards potential predators such as roosting owls, and will scold them loudly when the predator is discovered. Chickadees are bold and trusting with people. During the spring and summer, however, chickadees become more territorial and pairs spend more time alone, later with their juvenile young. These flocks often attract other species such as other kinds of chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, creepers, kinglets and other small birds. During the colder parts of the year, chickadees flock together and travel in larger foraging groups. Female incubates up to 8 white, brown spotted eggs for around 13 days.īlack-capped chickadees are small, but very hardy birds and do not migrate south during the winter months. Inner chamber is lined with moss and fur or hair. These chickadees will also use nest boxes of the right proportions. NestingĬhickadees are cavity nesters, often using the holes excavated by downy woodpeckers, but also use dead snags and rotten branches. These chickadees will also visit feeders and consume seed and suet. It is not unusually to see them hanging from a branch upside down as they feed! They will occasionally come down to the ground, but generally near the cover of shrubs or low branches. DietĬhickadees spend a great deal of time picking small insects such as caterpillars off of trees. They also sing a bright springtime song that sounds like hi-sweetie! or cheese-burger! Scientists have recognized and described at least 15 different vocalizations made by black-capped chickadees. The most familiar sound is their chick-a-dee-dee! call that gives them their name. These birds produce a wide-variety of vocalizations, including: chips, whistles, gargles, and others. They are found in a variety of habitats across the country, including: riparian areas, woodlands, mixed forests, orchards, parks, sub-urban and urban areas. Like all birds, chickadees can fluff up or flatten their feathers at will. Their body can appear thicker or thinner depending on their mood or on the weather. These little birds are about 5 inches long, with a wingspan of about 8 inches. This chickadee has pale tan or light yellow-brown sides and white chest and belly region. Tail is gray, with feathers becoming progressively paler on their edges as you move to the outside of the tail. The chin and throat area also have a black triangle, often called a "bib." The upper back and rump is gray-olive, while the wings are generally patterned in subtle shades of gray. The cheeks are white, and the white continues on to the back of the head and neck. The black-capped chickadee ( Poecile atricapillus) has a black cap that comes down to the bottom of the eye and top of the bill. Description of the Black-capped ChickadeeĬhickadees all come in a similar package: small rounded bodies, rounded heads, long tails, dark shiny eyes and a small, short, pointed bill.
