Facts for Kids About the Black Capped Chickadee Bird
The black-capped chickadee uses a distinctive call that helps people locate the tiny birds. Sometimes chickadees flock together with other birds such as nuthatches, woodpeckers and titmice, especially in the winter. Most black-capped chickadees show little fear of people. Instead, they appear very curious, even flying to an outstretched hand to take a seed. The bird often visits bird feeders, especially in winter months.
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Description
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Black-capped chickadees sport oversized heads with black caps and bibs and white cheeks. The underparts of the bird are pale brown. Its wings and tail look dark gray. Unlike some species of birds, the male and females look alike. Black-capped chickadees grow up to 6 inches in length. Their wingspan reaches up to 8 inches wide. Their bouncy flight helps people identify them.
Habitat
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Black-capped chickadees live in deciduous and mixed woodlands consisting of both deciduous and conifer trees. They also live in open woods and parks near cottonwood groves. The small birds also thrive in fields and suburban areas. Sometimes black-capped chickadees make short migratory flights to milder climates in the winter. The birds primarily live in the northern half of the continental United States.
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Calls
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Chickadees use at least 15 different calls to communicate with other chickadees in the flock as well as offspring. The most recognizable song is known as the chickadee-dee-dee call. This call led to its name. Chickadees also make alarm calls when a predator, such as a hawk, comes close. Other birds, such as nuthatches, also recognize the alarm calls of the chickadee and immediately seek cover.
Diet
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Insect eggs and larvae make up the majority of a black-capped chickadee’s diet. They also eat lice, sawflies, weevils and other insects. The birds fill up on centipedes, snails, slugs and spiders, too. The little birds also eat some berries and seeds. Black-capped chickadees are often spotted at bird feeders, where they like to eat sunflower seeds and suet, especially in the winter.
Behavior
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Black-capped chickadees often stash seeds in the bark of a tree or other location for later use. If a different species of bird or a squirrel doesn’t find the food first, the chickadee remembers where to look for it when it’s ready to eat the item. As to the hierarchy of the flock, the birds rely on a pecking order in which the other chickadees act subordinate to the most aggressive chickadee.
Nesting
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Cavities in dead trees or branches make great nests for chickadees. While some people tear down trees that die, dead or dying trees offers excellent homes to chickadees. The birds also roost in the cavities, meaning they stay in the cavities at night. Chickadees will nest in bird houses, too. The birds fill the inside of the cavity or bird house with materials such as moss, fur, and grass to create a soft nest for the babies.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit black-capped chickadee image by Bruce MacQueen from Fotolia.com
