Preferred Seed:
Sunflower hearts, Black oil sunflower, Peanuts, Suet
Description:
The Black Capped Chickadee is a small, energetic songbird known for its bold personality and distinctive black cap and bib. Chickadees are frequent visitors to backyard feeders and are especially fond of sunflower seeds and peanuts. Despite their tiny size, they are curious and fearless, often grabbing a seed and flying off to crack it open nearby.
Feeder Type:
Tube, Hopper, Platform
Nesting:
Black Capped Chickadees nest in small cavities in trees, often excavating their own nest holes in soft wood or using abandoned woodpecker holes. They line the nest with moss, plant fibers, fur, and feathers.
Identification:
Males and females look nearly identical with a black cap, black bib, gray back, and pale underside.
Song Description:
A clear, whistled song often described as “fee bee” or “hey sweetie.” Their familiar call is the famous “chick a dee dee dee” that gives the bird its name.
How to Attract:
• Offer black oil sunflower seeds or sunflower hearts
• Provide peanuts or suet in colder months
• Use tube or hopper feeders for easy access
• Maintain fresh water in a bird bath year round
• Plant native shrubs and trees that provide cover
Fun Fact:
Black Capped Chickadees can remember hundreds of hidden food caches and retrieve them later, allowing them to survive harsh winter conditions.
Residency:
Year round resident across most of its range
Region:
United States, Southern Canada
Range Map:
Range Map © Chirp Nook
Best Seed Blend For
Black Capped Chickadee
Black Capped Chickadee
