Black-capped Chickadee

Of the five major species of chickadees found in the United States and Canada, the Black-capped Chickadee is the most widespread, numerous and geographically variable. This bird brightens winter days at bird feeders. It is curious, with little or no fear of humans, and is famous for being easily trained to eat out of a person's hand.

During the fall, we may see them in groups along with other bird species. The advantage is that many eyes are more likely to find food.

The Black-capped Chickadee has a black cap, white cheeks, back bib and gray underparts. Sideband flanks are tuff and the tail feathers are edged in white. 

Three subspecies of the Black-capped Chickadee differ in several characteristics. A northwestern group is small and dark-backed with heavy buff flanks. An interior western group is large and pale-backed with broad white wing edging. An eastern subspecies is generally intermediate between the other two, with a prominence of white wing edging and richness of buff tan sides.

Like many birds, Black-capped Chickadees are omnivores. They eat a diet of seeds, berries, insects, invertebrates and, occasionally, small portions of carrion. Chickadees have a fondness of storing food and eating it later. In autumn, chickadees replace old neurons in their brains with new ones which gives them more space to store new information. This is similar to us forgetting old phone numbers to make room for e-mail addresses!

Black-capped Chickadees' calls are complex and language-like. They communicate information on identity and recognition of other flocks as well as predator alarms and contact calls. The traditional call is chick-a-dee-dee-dee. The more dee notes in the call, the higher level of threat. Most birds that associate with chickadee flocks respond to chickadee alarm calls, even when their own species does not have a similar alarm call. Black-capped Chickadees also have a fee bee call that almost sounds like a whistle.

The Black-capped Chickadee is the state bird of Maine and Massachusetts and the provincial bird of New Brunswick.

A group of chickadees is called a banditry of chickadees. The collective noun probably refers to the mask-like appearance of the bird.

The chickadee is a fun bird to observe. It is still my favorite.