In Alberta, this comprehensive manual aims to assist you in recognizing and classifying various species of Chickadees. It includes photo identification, detailed descriptions, captivating audio recordings of their melodious songs, intriguing facts, and much more.
Chickadees, small and lively songbirds, flutter energetically while seeking out insects, and they readily pay visits to backyard feeders. Belonging to the Poecile family, these charming creatures comprise only seven distinct species, all of which inhabit North America.
Alberta is home to four distinct types of chickadees. While the Black-capped Chickadees are the most prevalent, Boreal Chickadees and Mountain Chickadees also make frequent appearances. Conversely, Chestnut-backed Chickadees are infrequent visitors.
Unlike migratory birds, chickadees may venture to lower altitudes during winter months in order to survive the cold. Studies have revealed their remarkable survival strategies, which include food caching, roosting in cavities, and entering a state of regulated nocturnal hypothermia to conserve energy.
Due to their elevated body temperature, chickadees possess an insatiable appetite and consume an amount of food equivalent to their own body weight each day!
Typically, chickadees do not enjoy extended lifespans; they usually live for only two or three years. As adults, they may only experience a single breeding season, and some records indicate rare cases where chickadees have survived up to twelve years.
Distinguishing between male and female chickadees can be challenging since they exhibit similar physical appearances. However, it’s worth noting that only males are responsible for producing the louder ‘Fee-bee’ song.
Chickadees thrive on a diet of insects and seeds, frequently visiting backyard feeders in search of seeds or suet. Additionally, you can obtain a free identification chart that outlines other common backyard bird species that regularly frequent Alberta.
This guide draws from avibase and utilizes data provided by birdwatchers on ebird to furnish accurate information regarding the presence of various chickadee species in Alberta.
Alberta is home to four types of Chickadees, which are as follows:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadees are permanent residents of Alberta, being observed throughout the year. They are more frequently reported during winter, primarily due to the absence of other birds during this season and their attraction to bird feeders.
With endearing round heads and petite bodies, Black-capped Chickadees possess black caps, beaks, and throats, accompanied by white cheeks. Their backs, wings, and tails are gray, while their bellies exhibit a lighter shade. Interestingly, they closely resemble Carolina Chickadees.
Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus
Size: 4.7-5.9 inches (12-15 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.5 ounces (9-14 g)
Wingspan: 6.3-8.3 inches (16-21 cm)
Black-capped Chickadees do not migrate and can be found in the northern regions of the United States and Canada.
These charming birds are often spotted in forests, open woodlands, and parks. Their diet consists of seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and suet.
2. Boreal Chickadee
Boreal Chickadees are present in Alberta year-round, although their frequency of occurrence increases from November to March, mainly due to the reduced presence of other bird species during the province’s winter season. They are recorded in 3% of summer checklists and 8% of winter checklists.
These diminutive grayish-brown songbirds boast dark brown caps, small black bibs, cinnamon-colored sides, and white undersides and cheeks.
Scientific Name: Poecile hudsonicus
Size: 4.9-5.5 inches (12.5-14 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.4 ounces (7-12.4 g)
Boreal Chickadees are found in Canada and Alaska, with occasional sightings in northern states of the United States.
Their preferred habitats consist of coniferous forests, often located near water sources, but they can also be found in deciduous or mixed forests. Boreal Chickadees feed on seeds and insects found in the upper canopy and readily visit feeders.
3. Mountain Chickadee
Mountain Chickadees are year-round residents of Alberta, predominantly observed in the southwest region of the province. They appear in 2% of summer checklists and 5% of winter checklists.
These small birds feature black-and-white heads, gray bodies with darker backs, and light gray undersides.
Scientific Name: Poecile gambeli
Size: 4.3-5.5 inches (11-14 cm)
Weight: 0.4 ounces (11 g)
Mountain Chickadees reside in the mountains west of the United States throughout the year and do not undertake migratory journeys. However, they may descend to lower elevations during winter.
You can spot Mountain Chickadees primarily in evergreen forests, especially those with pine and conifer trees. They feed on insects, spiders, nuts, and seeds and frequently visit backyard feeders. These resourceful birds often store food for future consumption.
4. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadees are considered rare or accidental species in Alberta, but a few sightings have been reported in the southwestern part of the province during winter.
These tiny birds exhibit black caps and throats, white cheeks, and possess rich chestnut plumage on their backs and sides. However, in California, their sides appear gray instead of brown.
Scientific Name: Poecile rufescens
Size: 3.9-4.7 inches (10-12 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.4 ounces (7-12 g)
Wingspan: 7.5 inches (19 cm)
Chestnut-backed Chickadees form flocks and inhabit wet evergreen forests along the Pacific Coast, often visiting backyard feeders.
They are commonly found in conifer forests and predominantly feed on insects, including caterpillars, spiders, wasps, and aphids. Additionally, they consume seeds, berries, and fruit.
It is noteworthy that Chestnut-backed Chickadees typically establish nests in holes within decaying wood, either by creating their own cavities or utilizing old woodpecker nests. The nest is lined with moss, bark, fur, and grass. They lay up to eleven eggs, which hatch after approximately two weeks, and the young depart the nest around three weeks later.
To attract Chestnut-backed Chickadees to your yard, consider offering black-oil sunflower seeds, suet, nyjer, peanuts, or mealworms in various feeder types, such as tube feeders, platform feeders, or suet cages. They also show an affinity for nest boxes.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Backyard
Observing the lively antics of chickadees is truly delightful. If you wish to witness more of these adorable birds in your yard, consider employing the following strategies:
1. Provide feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Various feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders, are suitable for chickadees.
3. Establish a water source, preferably a birdbath with running water.
4. Plant berry-producing trees and shrubs that attract insects, which serve as a food source for chickadees.
5. Refrain from using pesticides or herbicides, as chickadees rely on insects for sustenance.
6. Create sheltered areas with trees and shrubs to offer protection.
7. Install a nest box with a small hole measuring 1 1/8 inches, positioned 5-15 feet above ground.
8. Keep cats indoors to ensure the safety of chickadees.
9. Patience is key, as it may take time for birds to discover your yard and feeders.
Chickadee Songs and Calls
Chickadees are renowned for their distinctive calls and songs. While the common “chick a dee” call serves as a mild alarm or contact call, their actual song is characterized by a melodious “fee bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
This call is produced exclusively by males, with the first note being higher pitched than the second. Males tend to move away from one another when singing.
2. Faint Fee-bee
Both males and females emit this call, typically employed by females to signal the male to provide food while she is incubating. It is also used for communication between parents and their young.
3. Chick-a-dee Call
This call serves as a mild alarm and is used for contact communication within flocks, helping coordinate their movements.
4. Gargle
Consisting of a series of two to nine short notes, this call warns other birds to maintain distance, often preceding an aggressive response.
5. Begging Call
Young chickadees emit bee-like calls to attract their parents’ attention and encourage them to provide food.
6. High Seet Call
An alarm call used to signal the presence of predators in the vicinity.
The frequency of Chickadee Sightings in Alberta During Summer and Winter
Checklists provide valuable information about the common bird species found in a particular region. Based on ebird checklists, the following data indicates the prevalence of chickadee species during summer and winter in Alberta:
Chickadees in Alberta during Summer:
– Black-capped Chickadee: 32.5%
– Boreal Chickadee: 3.3%
– Mountain Chickadee: 2.9%
– Chestnut-backed Chickadee: <0.1%
Chickadees in Alberta during Winter:
– Black-capped Chickadee: 63.3%
– Boreal Chickadee: 8.4%
– Mountain Chickadee: 5.4%
– Chestnut-backed Chickadee: <0.1%