Black Capped Chickadee Mini Original

This friendly, social, and very curious songbird has surely caught your ear with his signature call, Chick-a-dee-dee-dee! They frequent yard feeders year-round, hanging out in forested areas. Chickadee calls are complex, communicating information on identity and recognition of other flocks as well as predator alarms. All the other birds trust the Chickadee’s alarms, and prefer to flock with them. The more “dees” after the “Chicka,” the higher the threat level.

In winter, they eat about half seeds and berries, half insects and suet. In other months, insects and high protein sources are 90% of their diet. They prefer to grab a seed from a feeder and fly away to eat or cache it. Every autumn, Chickadees allow brain neurons with old information to die and new neurons grow to store new information about their environments!

Males and females are similar in appearance, with small bills, black cap and bib, and rotund little bodies. Both excavate a tree cavity selected by the female, and she will build the inside of the nest with moss or rabbit fur. Here in this piece, a mama chickadee feeds her fledgling.

Chickadees are associated across many cultures with cheerfulness, lightheartedness, humility, honesty, and curiosity. When you see them, say hello!