Black-capped Chickadees
Black-capped Chickadee ~ Photography by Caitlyn Sippel
Black-capped Chickadees are one of the most well-known birds across all of North America. They also are one of the more tame birds, as I remember in my childhood holding up birdseed in my hand and experiencing such joy when a chickadee landed on my outstretched hand to eat. I held as still as I possibly could while in awe that such a fascinating creature would feel brave enough to get so close to me.
Ever wonder how these small birds can tough it out in our cold Canadian winters? The Chickadee is a fascinating species as it can decrease its body temperature during the harsh northern winter in order to conserve energy.
Voice:
I find the chickadee's song to be one of the easier ones to remember as it sounds like they sing their own name with a: chick-a-dee-dee-dee. My mom has told me that the more "dees" sung, the more threatened the chickadee feels.
Listen and watch a video of Chickadees by Lesley the Bird Nerd.
Nesting:
Chickadees make their nests in the holes of rotting tree stumps and add padding to them with plant fibers, hair, fun, and feathers. These little birds lay a whopping 6-8 eggs, in 1 brood from April to June.Feeding:
Chickadees eat spiders in bushes and trees, forage for insects and their eggs during warmer seasons while resorting to seeds in the colder winter.