In Minnesota, this comprehensive manual will aid you in identifying all the various species of Chickadees. By providing photo identifications and descriptions, audio recordings of their melodious tunes, and intriguing facts, among other things.
Chickadees, those industrious small songbirds, flit about in search of insects and willingly grace backyard feeders. Belonging to the Poecile family of avian creatures, these delightful birds are limited to just seven species, all of which thrive in North America.
Within Minnesota’s borders, only two species of chickadees can be observed: the Black-capped Chickadee and the Boreal Chickadee.
While Chickadees do not partake in long-distance migrations, they may journey to lower elevations during the winter season. To endure the frigid winter months, studies have revealed that Chickadees employ various survival strategies, such as storing food, seeking refuge in cavities, and entering regulated nocturnal hypothermia to conserve energy.
Due to their high body temperature and insatiable appetites, Chickadees have an incessant craving and must consume their entire body weight in food every day!
Chickadees, unfortunately, do not lead particularly long lives. In fact, they typically only survive for a meager two or three years. As adults, they may live for a solitary year, encompassing only one breeding season. However, there have been recorded instances of Chickadees persevering for an impressive twelve years.
Distinguishing between male and female Chickadees can prove challenging, as they bear striking resemblances. The sole distinguishing characteristic lies in the fact that only males possess the ability to produce the resounding song of “Fee Bee.”
Feasting upon insects and seeds, Chickadees frequently flock to backyard feeders in search of nourishment. You can discover additional information regarding other backyard bird varieties that commonly visit Minnesota and acquire a complimentary identification chart.
To identify the assortment of Chickadees inhabiting Minnesota, this manual utilizes data sourced from the avibase platform and incorporates information collected by avid birdwatchers through ebird.
Two Chickadee Varieties in Minnesota:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
The Black-capped Chickadee is exceedingly prevalent and remains a year-round resident of Minnesota. It has been observed in 43% of summer checklists and 57% of winter checklists submitted by diligent birdwatchers within the state.
Sporting endearing round heads atop tiny bodies, Black-capped Chickadees exhibit an inclination to happily indulge at backyard feeders, exhibiting an inquisitive nature even towards human observers!
With black caps, beaks, and throats, complemented by white cheeks, and gray backs, wings, and tails, their bellies present a lighter hue. They bear a strong resemblance to Carolina Chickadees.
Poecile atricapillus
Length: 4.7-5.9 in (12-15 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-14 g)
Wingspan: 6.3-8.3 in (16-21 cm)
Black-capped Chickadees do not embark on migratory journeys and can be sighted throughout the northern regions of the United States and Canada.
Forested areas, open woodlands, and parks serve as favored habitats for Black-capped Chickadees. They feast upon seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and suet.
Call/Song of the Black-capped Chickadee:
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
Nests constructed by Black-capped Chickadees are commonly found within old woodpecker nests. Alternatively, they may carve out their own cavities within decaying branches. Both males and females contribute to nest-building duties, with the female meticulously lining it with moss and other soft materials, such as fur.
These Chickadees are capable of laying substantial clutches of up to thirteen eggs. The incubation period lasts approximately two weeks, followed by an additional two weeks for the young to fledge from the nest.
To attract Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard, provide suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. They may even feed directly from your hand and are often among the first birds to discover new feeders. Nest boxes, particularly those filled with wood shavings, are also likely to be utilized.
Fun fact: Black-capped Chickadees possess remarkable brains that undergo an annual renewal process. Old brain neurons die off, shedding outdated information, while new neurons and information take their place.
2. Boreal Chickadee
Although less commonly encountered in Minnesota, Boreal Chickadees can be spotted predominantly in the northern regions of the state, primarily during winter, from December to mid-March.
Boreal Chickadees are diminutive, exhibiting grayish-brown plumage. They sport dark brown caps, small black bibs, cinnamon-toned sides, and white underparts and cheeks.
Poecile hudsonicus
Length: 4.9-5.5 in (12.5-14 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (7-12.4 g)
Boreal Chickadees inhabit Canada and Alaska, occasionally venturing into northern U.S. states.
Coniferous forests serve as the primary habitat for Boreal Chickadees, often found in proximity to bodies of water. However, they may also inhabit deciduous or mixed forests. They forage for seeds and insects within the upper reaches of the forest canopy and readily visit feeders.
Credit: Ken Hall, XC511286. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/511286.
Nests of Boreal Chickadees are typically located within dead trees, with the female responsible for creating the cavity. The interior of the nest is lined with moss and bark, followed by softer materials such as hair and feathers. Their clutch typically consists of up to nine eggs, requiring slightly over two weeks of incubation.
To attract Boreal Chickadees to your backyard, offer black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, peanuts, and mealworms in various feeder types. Additionally, installing a nesting box can entice a mating pair.
Fun Fact: Boreal Chickadees diligently store seeds and insects in preparation for the long and harsh winter.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Backyard
Watching Chickadees in their constant bustling pursuit of sustenance is an absolute joy. If you wish to witness more of these adorable avian wonders in your yard, consider employing the following strategies to attract them:
1. Provide feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Various feeder types, such as tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders, will cater to their feeding preferences.
3. A water source, preferably with running water, such as a birdbath, will prove enticing.
4. Cultivate berry-producing trees and shrubs to attract insects, which are a part of their diet.
5. Avoid the use of pesticides or herbicides, as Chickadees rely on insects for sustenance.
6. Create sheltered areas using trees and shrubs.
7. Install nesting boxes with small entrance holes, raised 5-15 feet above the ground.
8. Keep cats indoors to ensure the safety of the birds.
9. Exercise patience, as it may take some time for birds to discover your yard and feeders.
Chickadee Songs and Calls
Chickadees are renowned for their distinctive “chick a dee” call, which, interestingly, serves as a mild alarm or contact call rather than their actual song. Their song, on the other hand, produces a melodious “fee bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
Produced exclusively by males
The first note is higher in pitch than the second
Males tend to distance themselves from one another while singing
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
2. Faint Fee-bee
Produced by both males and females
Females utilize this call to summon the male for feeding while she is incubating
Used for communication between parents and young
3. Chick-a-dee call
Mild alarm call
Contact calls within flocks
Coordinates movements within flocks
Credit: GABRIEL LEITE, XC420822. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/420822.
4. Gargle
Consists of a series of two to nine short notes
Employed when birds come too close in flocks or around feeders
Acts as a warning call to encourage the other bird to move away
Credit: Todd Wilson, XC42956. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
Young chickadees emit a bee-like call to request feeding from their parents
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
Alarm call signaling the presence of predators
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.
Chickadee Sightings in Minnesota during Summer and Winter
Checklists serve as valuable resources for gauging the frequency of bird sightings in a given area. The following percentages indicate the prevalence of Chickadee species in Minnesota, as recorded in ebird checklists during summer and winter:
Chickadees in Minnesota during Summer:
Black-capped Chickadee: 43.3%
Boreal Chickadee: 0.1%
Chickadees in Minnesota during Winter:
Black-capped Chickadee: 57.9%
Boreal Chickadee: 1.5%