Discover the remarkable variety of Chickadee species found in Arkansas, complete with photo identification, detailed descriptions, captivating audio recordings of their melodious songs, intriguing facts, and more.
Arkansas is a bustling haven for these lively, melodious songbirds, whose nimble movements and ceaseless search for insects make them a delightful sight. Chickadees belong to the esteemed Poecile bird family, and North America is home to a mere seven species of these charming creatures.
When exploring the enchanting wilderness of Arkansas, your keen eye will spot only one type of Chickadee—the Carolina Chickadee.
Unlike migratory birds, Chickadees opt for shorter journeys, descending to lower ground during the winter season. To endure the icy grasp of winter, scientific studies have revealed their ingenious survival techniques, such as storing food supplies, taking shelter in cavities, and entering a regulated nocturnal hypothermic state to conserve energy.
With their soaring body temperature and insatiable appetite, Chickadees require sustenance equivalent to their own weight every day!
Remarkably, Chickadees lead relatively brief lives, lasting a mere two or three years. As adults, they may experience just a solitary year, dedicated to a single breeding season. Nevertheless, records exist of Chickadees astonishingly living up to twelve years.
Distinguishing between male and female Chickadees can pose a challenge, as their appearances bear striking resemblance. However, it is the male Chickadee that serenades with the delightful ‘Fee Bee’ melody.
Nourishing themselves on insects and seeds, Chickadees frequently grace backyard feeders in search of seeds or suet. Discover other avian visitors that frequent Arkansas backyards, and don’t forget to print a complimentary identification chart.
This invaluable guide facilitates the identification of Chickadee species present in Arkansas, drawing from avibase and incorporating data collected by devoted birdwatchers through ebird, thus providing genuine information about the optimal time to spot these feathered wonders.
Types of Chickadees in Arkansas:
1. Carolina Chickadee
Throughout the year, Carolina Chickadees grace Arkansas with their presence. These diminutive birds boast prominent heads, adorned with black caps and throats. Their cheeks and bellies flaunt a pristine white hue, harmonizing with their soft gray backs, wings, and tails.
Though visually resembling the Black-capped Chickadee, these two species interbreed only in certain overlapping regions. Notably, Black-capped Chickadees exhibit a greater prevalence of white in their wings compared to their Carolina counterparts.
Scientific Classification: Poecile carolinensis
Length: 3.9-4.7 in (10-12 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (8-12 g)
Wingspan: 5.9-7.9 in (15-20 cm)
Carolina Chickadees are year-round inhabitants of the eastern and southeastern United States.
Immerse yourself in the tranquility of wooded areas, parks, and your own backyard to catch sight of Carolina Chickadees. During the summer, their diet primarily consists of insects and spiders, while plant material contributes to approximately half of their winter sustenance.
Behold the melodious serenade of the Carolina Chickadee:
Credit: Brian Hendrix, XC572217. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/572217.
These resourceful birds construct their nests in self-made cavities, as well as utilizing preexisting holes or natural cavities. By lining these hollows with moss and progressively softer materials like hair, they create cozy sanctuaries. Carolina Chickadees lay up to ten eggs, requiring approximately two weeks to hatch, followed by an additional two to three weeks for the young to fledge.
Captivate Carolina Chickadees in your backyard with enticing offerings such as black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet feeders, or peanuts. They readily partake from various feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders. Additionally, these delightful creatures embrace nest boxes and tubes as potential nesting sites.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Backyard
Observe the enchanting spectacle of these adorable birds as they busily gather sustenance. To invite more of these charming avians to your yard, consider the following:
1. Provide feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Accommodate their feeding preferences by utilizing tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders.
3. Establish a water source, preferably a birdbath with flowing water.
4. Cultivate berry-producing trees and shrubs, which attract insects, a vital part of the Chickadee’s diet.
5. Refrain from using pesticides or herbicides, as Chickadees rely on insects for sustenance.
6. Foster sheltered spaces with trees and shrubs.
7. Offer nest boxes with a small 1 1/8-inch entrance, elevated 5 to 15 feet above the ground.
8. Ensure the safety of these avian friends by keeping cats indoors.
9. Exercise patience, as it may take time for the birds to discover your yard and feeders.
Chickadee Songs and Calls
Chickadees have become synonymous with their eponymous “chick a dee” call, which interestingly serves as a mild alarm or contact call. Surprisingly, their melodic song manifests as a delightful “fee bee” sound.
Experience the auditory beauty of Chickadee sounds:
1. Fee-bee
Produced exclusively by males
The initial note exhibits a higher pitch than the subsequent one
Males prefer singing at a distance from other males
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
2. Faint Fee-bee
Emanates from both males and females
Females employ this call to beckon the male when incubating eggs
Used for communication between parents and their young
3. Chick-a-dee call
Serves as a mild alarm call
Facilitates contact among flock members
Coordinates movements within the flock
Credit: GABRIEL LEITE, XC420822. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/420822.
4. Gargle
Consists of a series of two to nine short notes
Deployed when birds encroach upon each other’s space within a flock or near feeders
Functions as a warning call before potential confrontations, encouraging distancing
Credit: Todd Wilson,
XC42956. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
Young Chickadees emit bee-like calls to request nourishment from their parents
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
Alarm Call to warn of predator presence
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.