Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) are one of the most common birds attracted to back yards and bird feeders across North America.
Black-capped Chickadee Range Map (adapted from Project Feeder Watch)
Chickadees are cute and friendly small birds that are easily identifiable by their black cap and bib and white cheeks and side of their face. Chickadees are non-migratory meaning that they stay in the same location year-round. They prefer areas with trees, woody shrubs, and tall grass. They are most often found near forest boundaries (areas where trees meet urban areas, fields, etc.). Unlike migratory species, Chickadees are very cold tolerant and thrive in cold winter temperatures.
Chickadees eat seeds, berries, fruit, insects, and spiders making them frequent visitors to bird feeders. They scour bark for insects, eat weed and conifer seeds (e.g. pine cone seeds), & eat berries and fruits from a variety of trees & shrubs (e.g. blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and apple). Chickadees cache food, meaning that they hide and store it for later.
Nest cavities (holes in dead trees where females lay their eggs) are most commonly found in deciduous trees (e.g. birch and aspen) and Chickadees lay between 1-13 eggs. Chickadees will also use nest boxes, especially flat-bottomed Blue Bird styles. Incubation is 12-13 days and when chicks hatch, they are precocial, meaning that they hatch with their eyes closed, are completely bald except for a thin fluffy down, and are completely dependent on their parents).
Chickadees are highly social birds that live in small flocks and are commonly found with other feeder bird species (woodpeckers, nuthatches, sparrows, vireos, and other small woodland species). Chickadees are not fussy as to the type of bird feeders that they will frequent, as they will use anything from fancy bird feeders to discount bird feeder, including all sizes and shapes of feeders (hopper feeders, tube feeders, peanut feeders, wire mesh feeders, suet feeders, and platform feeders). Chickadees (and most wild birds) are more likely to frequent your bird feeders if feeders are placed in trees or are near tree. This provides protection and a quick escape from predators. Foods that attract Chickadees to bird feeders include black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, suet, peanuts, insect feed mixes, and dried fruit. Water also attracts most birds for both drinking and bathing. If your bird bath is deep or slippery, provide marbles or river rocks at the bottom of the water. This gives birds something to grip, increases the attractiveness of your bath to small birds, and reduces the likelihood of drowning.
References
• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology - All About Birds
• Foote, Jennifer R., Daniel J. Mennill, Laurene M. Ratcliffe and Susan M. Smith. 2010. Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/039
This article can be cited as: Bird, K.L. (2011) Bird Chatter - Attracting Black-capped Chickadees to your bird feeder. Retrieved <insert date> from http://www.aviangenetics.com