January 4, 2024

The Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapilla

Black-capped Chickadee

Most nature lovers in Northeast Ohio recognize the eponymous call of the Black-capped Chickadee. This universally cute species with an oversized head atop a tiny body sports a black cap and bib, white cheeks, gray back, and buff underside. It’s a curious bird, one that’s courageous enough to feed from a friendly hand, first investigating then landing for the briefest of moments before flitting away with a tasty tidbit. But as much as we see & hear this year-round resident, there’s so much more to know!

chicka-dee-dee!

Chickadees are often the first birds we learn about in Northeast Ohio because the population is plentiful, they’re not particularly shy, and they’re quick to discover backyard feeders. In winter, half their diet consists of seeds and berries, while the other half is made up of insects and animal fats. That’s why we recommend filling feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, sunflower kernels, peanut pieces, suet, and mealworms. Hopper and platform feeders are as welcome as tube and suet cage feeders, given chickadees aren’t choosy and will feed from just about anything. The species is also acrobatic enough to handle small feeders swinging in the wind, perching sideways or upside-down to make it happen.

food for thought

Now, if you thought squirrels and chipmunks were the only animals snatching and caching food for the winter, think again! Chickadees also demonstrate this behavior, stashing away convenience foods like seeds and mealworms that make for an easy snack later in the day or which supply a good boost of energy the next morning. They think longer term, as well, hiding food in fall that’s intended to be eaten much later in winter. In fact, chickadees use their keen spatial memory to stash one item per spot, recording and remembering the precise location of thousands of cached items. And get this – a chickadee actually expands it hippocampus, the memory center of its brain, by about 30% each fall to keep track of its hidden treasures all winter. Then come spring, the bird’s brain returns to its pre-caching size, and the memory of where seeds were hidden is wiped away.

hand-feed a chickadee

Each winter, Cleveland Metroparks invites the community to drop by Brecksville Nature Center during select days & times to hand-feed the chickadees. In fact, it’s one of Brecksville Reservation‘s oldest traditions, dating back to the 1940s! While the tradition rallies around feeding chickadees, other birds are sometimes brave enough to hop onto a friendly hand including titmice and nuthatches. No need to bring supplies, the park provides all the birdseed you need!

sounds of the season

Chickadee Call | The next time you hear the call of chicka-dee-dee, pause and pay attention. How many instances of dee are you hearing, as the call is repeated? The more dee notes and the lengthier the call (e.g. chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee or longer), the more urgently the bird is trying to coordinate an activity or ring the alarm. If you hear a high-pitched “see” call, it is likely a ranking male signaling the danger of a fast-approaching predator. In this case, all birds in the flock will freeze in place, waiting for a simple chickadee-dee call, which gives the “all clear” message.

 

Chickadee Song | The song of the Chickadee is also a very familiar sound in Northeast Ohio, but you may not realize it belongs to this species. A sweet, relaxed whistle from the trees that sounds like fee-bee, or sweet-ie, is what you’re listening for. It’s always a two-note song, and the second note is always lower in pitch than the first. Chickadees use this song to announce territorial boundaries or attract mates, depending on the time of year.

Listen to Chickadee Sounds

supporting survival

During winter, chickadees consume up to 20x more food than in summer. They eat ravenously first thing in the morning, gain as much as 10% of their body weight, then lose it all again during the cold night. In environments where temperatures dip below 10° F, as they do here in Northeast Ohio, studies show the survival rate of Chickadees nearly doubles if the species has access to feeders.

Petitti Songbird Mix

This mix contains a blend of black oil sunflower, safflower, striped sunflower, and peanut pieces, making it an ideal mix to attract not only chickadees but a myriad of songbirds.

Cedar Hopper & Suet Feeder

Made by Nature’s Way®, this feeder holds 3 quarts of seed and 2 suet cakes to accommodate Chickadees and larger birds like Cardinals. The seed tray is removable for easy cleaning.

Chickadee & Wren Nesting House

Next spring, Chickadees will happily use this right-sized nesting box as an alternative to excavating their own roosting holes in rotten wood, especially if sawdust or wood shavings are added inside.

backyard birding

creating an oasis

Whether it’s for the Black-capped Chickadee or another Northeast Ohio feathered friend, backyard birding is quite easy. It creates a meaningful way to connect with outdoor nature year-round, and, as with any bird one wishes to attract, covering the basics of water, food, and shelter improves the chances for success.

Learn more about backyard birding

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