A tiny acrobatic songbird that's a winter staple at northern feeders. Their familiar "chick-a-dee" call is one of the most complex animal communication systems studied — adding "dees" indicates increasing threat level.

Also called: Black-cap

Native status: Native to northern North America

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 in); wingspan 15–21 cm
Weight9–14 g (0.32–0.49 oz)
LifespanWild average 2 years; oldest documented 11
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyParidae

§ Encyclopedia

The black-capped chickadee is a small, nonmigratory, North American passerine bird that lives in deciduous and mixed forests. It is a member of the Paridae family, also known as tits. It has a distinct black cap on its head, a black bib underneath, and white cheeks. It has a white belly, buff sides, and grey wings, back, and tail. The bird is well known for its vocalizations, including its fee-bee song and its chick-a-dee-dee-dee call, from which it derives its name.

Source: Wikipedia — Black-capped chickadee Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Black cap and bib, white cheeks, gray back, buffy flanks. Small size and acrobatic feeder visits.

Similar species. Carolina Chickadee (southeast US; slightly smaller, song differs). Mountain Chickadee (white eyebrow stripe).

Voice. Clear whistled "fee-bee" song; familiar "chicka-dee-dee-dee" call — more "dees" indicate higher threat level.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Insects and spiders in warm months; seeds and berries in winter. Famous for storing seeds in thousands of cache sites and remembering each location.

Behavior. Doesn't migrate. Forms winter flocks led by a dominant pair. Memory expands seasonally — hippocampus grows in winter to store cache locations.

§ Range

Northern US and Canada from Alaska to Newfoundland

§ Habitat

Mixed and deciduous forests, suburban yards, parks

§ Threats

Climate-driven northward range shift, window strikes at feeders, outdoor cats.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the black-capped chickadee is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Keep cats indoors. Use bird-safe window treatments. Maintain a winter feeder with black-oil sunflower seeds.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • Project FeederWatch
  • Birds Canada
  • IUCN Red List 2017