BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE Poecile atricapillus) - See images below
DESCRIPTION: The Black-capped chickadee, as its name implies, has a black cap. The throat, bill and eyes are also black. The face sides are white. The top parts are medium grey and the under parts white, with buff sides. Legs are dark grey. Sexes are similar. It is a small song bird at about 15 cm long (6 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Poecile-atricapillus
NAME: The name 'chickadee' is an onomatopoeia for the bird's main call, although during mating season the species also has a soft whistling 3-note call. Latin genus name 'Poecile' refers to an 'unknown small bird' (Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Name), and the Latin species name 'atricapillus' means 'black-capped'.
HABITAT: Woody areas, including in the suburbs and cities.
DIET: Omnivorous, will feed on what is available in season - seeds (including at bird feeders), berries, insects.
NESTING: The nest is usually located in a tree cavity or a nest box. Around 7 white eggs are laid, incubated by female. Chicks mainly fed by the female, while the male brings food to the female.
DISTRIBUTION: Black-capped chickadees are mostly year-round residents withing their range, which covers most of Canada up to the tree line, and the northern half of the USA (including Alaska).
Distribution map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-capped_chickadee#/media/File:Poecile_atricapillus_distribution_map.png
ON PEI: Year-round residents on Prince Edward Island, common.
CONSERVATION: Not at risk.
NOTES: Black-capped chickadees are usually found in small groups. They are easily attracted to bird feeders and some can become tame enough to be hand-fed (see photo below). They can eat large seeds by holding them with their feet on a branch and hammering at them with their bill.
When coming at bird feeders these birds behave in a 'civil' manner. Whereas some species (such as Evening grosbeaks) will fight among each other to get the best spot at the feeder, chickadees will come to the feeder one by one, while the others will wait for their turn. There is a dominance hierarchy among those birds.
They are very nimble and can forage upside down along branches. In addition, if there is an abundance of food - such as around bird feeders - these birds will hoard seeds in different places.
The Black-capped chickadee is the State Bird of Massachusetts, and the Provincial Bird of New-Brunswick.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Boreal chickadee
REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-capped_chickadee
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-capped-chickadee
https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/encyclopedias/fauna/birds/black-capped-chickadee.html
https://www.hww.ca/en/wildlife/birds/chickadee.html
https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/black-capped-chickadee
https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/680/_/Black-capped_Chickadee.aspx
Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas
This video below shows that contrary to many 'social' birds, the black-capped chickadees will only feed one by one from a food source, waiting for their 'turn'. They probably also feel vulnerable on the ground on that trail, as they zip back up in the trees as soon as they find a seed. Taken on the trail along the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.
DESCRIPTION: The Black-capped chickadee, as its name implies, has a black cap. The throat, bill and eyes are also black. The face sides are white. The top parts are medium grey and the under parts white, with buff sides. Legs are dark grey. Sexes are similar. It is a small song bird at about 15 cm long (6 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Poecile-atricapillus
NAME: The name 'chickadee' is an onomatopoeia for the bird's main call, although during mating season the species also has a soft whistling 3-note call. Latin genus name 'Poecile' refers to an 'unknown small bird' (Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Name), and the Latin species name 'atricapillus' means 'black-capped'.
HABITAT: Woody areas, including in the suburbs and cities.
DIET: Omnivorous, will feed on what is available in season - seeds (including at bird feeders), berries, insects.
NESTING: The nest is usually located in a tree cavity or a nest box. Around 7 white eggs are laid, incubated by female. Chicks mainly fed by the female, while the male brings food to the female.
DISTRIBUTION: Black-capped chickadees are mostly year-round residents withing their range, which covers most of Canada up to the tree line, and the northern half of the USA (including Alaska).
Distribution map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-capped_chickadee#/media/File:Poecile_atricapillus_distribution_map.png
ON PEI: Year-round residents on Prince Edward Island, common.
CONSERVATION: Not at risk.
NOTES: Black-capped chickadees are usually found in small groups. They are easily attracted to bird feeders and some can become tame enough to be hand-fed (see photo below). They can eat large seeds by holding them with their feet on a branch and hammering at them with their bill.
When coming at bird feeders these birds behave in a 'civil' manner. Whereas some species (such as Evening grosbeaks) will fight among each other to get the best spot at the feeder, chickadees will come to the feeder one by one, while the others will wait for their turn. There is a dominance hierarchy among those birds.
They are very nimble and can forage upside down along branches. In addition, if there is an abundance of food - such as around bird feeders - these birds will hoard seeds in different places.
The Black-capped chickadee is the State Bird of Massachusetts, and the Provincial Bird of New-Brunswick.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Boreal chickadee
REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-capped_chickadee
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-capped-chickadee
https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/encyclopedias/fauna/birds/black-capped-chickadee.html
https://www.hww.ca/en/wildlife/birds/chickadee.html
https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/black-capped-chickadee
https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/680/_/Black-capped_Chickadee.aspx
Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas
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| Hand-fed Black-capped chickadee, PEI by Marie Smith, Summerside |
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| Leucistic Black-capped chickadee, Lois Kilburn |
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| Black-capped chickadee, Jodi Arsenault |
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| Black-capped chickadee, PEI, Canada |
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| Black-capped chickadee, PEI, Marie Smith |