Black-capped Chickadee    Poecile atricapilla

Migratory Status: Resident

PIF Population Estimate: 34 000 000

Percent of western hemisphere population breeding in boreal forest: <25%

BAM Effective Detection Radius (m) : 60.54

PIF Maximum Detection Distance (m) : 125

Canadian BBS Population trend: 1.3 (0.5 to 2.0)

Life History

A year-round resident and a frequent visitor of backyard feeders during the winter makes the Black-capped Chickadee one of the North America’s most recognized songbirds. With its black cap and familiar “Chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call, this species is aptly named. They are one of the easiest birds to learn based on appearance and vocalizations.

Black-capped Chickadees utilise open woodlands and forest edges. Their range extends from Alaska eastward across the central region of Canada to Newfoundland and southward into the northern two thirds of the United States. During the breeding season, mated pairs defend territories. In late summer and fall, breeding territories break down and groups of chickadees form flocks that have complex social structures (i.e., dominant and subordinate members) which last until spring. Population irruptions occur in the fall on an approximately biannual basis, and are thought to be linked to a cycle of high seed-crop in one year followed by a poor seed-crop and high bird densities the next. During these events food is scarce and some individuals, usually young birds, are forced to move outside their normal range.

Males and females look alike and have a solid black cap and bib, white cheek patches, an unstreaked gray back, white belly with a light brown colouring on the flanks, and dark gray wings and tail. In the Eastern subspecies (P. a. atricapilla), research has shown that males have greater plumage contrast between white and black feather patches (i.e., have darker black plumage) than females. High ranking males have darker black patches than low ranking males, which may mean that achromatic plumage (i.e., black, gray or white plumage) provides information about the quality and sex of individuals in this species. Nine subspecies of Black-capped Chickadees are currently recognized across North America based on differences in morphology.

Black-capped Chickadees are arboreal foragers and rarely feed on the ground. They eat insects, berries, and seeds, with seeds being a staple of their diet in the winter. In the fall, chickadees cache (i.e., stockpile) seeds in a variety of locations and rely on this supply throughout the winter. Storing food is one way the Black-capped Chickadee is able to survive the short days and cold temperatures of winter. Another adaptation is their ability to drop their body temperature by 10 to 12 °C at night time. By entering a state of regulated hypothermia, individuals are able to save valuable energy.