Discovering the myriad species of Chickadees that can be observed in Canada becomes a breeze with this comprehensive manual, featuring photo identifications, descriptive narratives, enchanting audio recordings of their melodious tunes, and fascinating snippets of information, among other delightful additions.
Chickadees, those industrious little songbirds, gracefully flit about, ceaselessly searching for insects, readily flocking to backyard feeders. Belonging to the esteemed Poecile avian lineage, the Chickadees comprise a mere seven distinct species, all exclusively inhabiting the vast expanse of North America.
Canada serves as the splendid dwelling place for six distinctive types of Chickadees, encompassing a realm where five are commonly found, while a solitary visitor remains a rare sight. Among the regularly occurring species, the Black-capped Chickadee reigns supreme, yet it shares its dominion with the Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Mountain Chickadee, and Gray-headed Chickadee. Conversely, the Carolina Chickadee is a sporadic guest, gracing Canadian landscapes with its presence on rare occasions.
Although the Chickadees forgo the perils of migration, they may venture to lower altitudes during the winter season, seeking respite from the frigid temperatures. To endure these challenging months, scientific studies have revealed their ingenious strategies, including the caching of food, seeking refuge in cavities, and engaging in regulated nocturnal hypothermia to conserve vital energy resources.
Due to their elevated body temperature and constant metabolic demands, Chickadees possess an insatiable appetite, necessitating the consumption of an amount of food equivalent to their own weight each passing day!
Regrettably, Chickadees do not bask in lengthy lifespans. In fact, their existence spans a mere two to three years on average, with a significant portion of their adult lives encompassing a solitary breeding season. However, exceptional cases have documented Chickadees persevering for an astounding twelve years.
Males and females of these avian treasures bear a striking resemblance, rendering their differentiation rather arduous. Nonetheless, a singular distinction emerges as only the males gift the world with their resounding melodies, embellishing the surroundings with their melodious ‘Fee-bee’ song.
It is worth noting that Black-capped Chickadees and Carolina Chickadees exhibit uncanny similarities in appearance. However, keen observers can discern slight discrepancies, as the former showcases an augmented white hue on its wings and utters a two-note tune, distinct from the four-note melody characteristic of the Carolina Chickadee.
The Chickadees’ diet consists predominantly of insects and seeds, prompting them to frequent backyard feeders in search of delectable sustenance such as seeds or suet.
Rest assured, this comprehensive guide, meticulously assembled with data sourced from avibase and insights provided by diligent bird enthusiasts on ebird, endeavors to facilitate your identification of the varied Chickadee species observed throughout the Canadian terrain, while proffering invaluable insights into their habits and seasonal appearances.
Canada’s Splendid Assortment of Chickadees: A Catalog:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadees, being ubiquitous and year-round residents of Canada, grace an impressive 35% of summer checklists and 52% of winter checklists submitted by avid birdwatchers across the nation.
Featuring endearingly petite frames with rounded heads, these charming birds boast black caps, beaks, and throats, accentuated by white cheeks. Their backs, wings, and tails exhibit a graceful shade of gray, harmonizing with their lighter bellies. Remarkably similar in appearance to Carolina Chickadees, they tend to captivate observers with their playful and inquisitive nature.
Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus
Length: 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 choose to reside year-round in the northern regions of the United States and Canada. Their preferred habitats include lush forests, open woodlands, and inviting parks. This versatile species feasts on a diverse diet comprising seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and even succulent suet.
For a delightful avian rendezvous in your backyard, entice Black-capped Chickadees with enticing offerings such as suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. These delightful creatures may even grace you with their presence on your palm, often spearheading new feeder discoveries. Nest boxes lined with wood shavings are also alluring to them.
Fun Fact: Black-capped Chickadees possess an extraordinary brain capable of shedding old information each year, making room for fresh knowledge by generating new neurons.
2. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Throughout the year, Chestnut-backed Chickadees adorn the Canadian landscape, predominantly in the western provinces. These enchanting avians account for approximately 3% of both summer and winter checklists.
Bedecked with black caps and throats alongside white cheeks, Chestnut-backed Chickadees showcase captivating chestnut hues on their backs and sides, complemented by gray wings and bellies. In California, their sides adopt a resplendent shade of gray, diverging from the brown tinges observed elsewhere.
Scientific Name: Poecile rufescens
Length: 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 establish thriving communities within moist evergreen forests along the Pacific Coast, frequently gracing backyard feeders. These captivating birds primarily inhabit coniferous forests, displaying a penchant for insects like caterpillars, spiders, wasps, and aphids, supplemented by a modest inclusion of seeds, berries, and fruits.
Eager bird enthusiasts can invite Chestnut-backed Chickadees to their abode by offering delectable treats such as black-oil sunflower seeds, suet, nyjer, peanuts, or enticing mealworms, using an array of feeders including tube feeders, platform feeders, or suet cages. These vibrant visitors may also embrace the comforts of nest boxes.
3. Boreal Chickadee
The Boreal Chickadee, an enduring presence within Canada all year round, emerges within approximately 2% of summer and winter checklists nationwide.
Sporting understated grayish-brown plumage, these diminutive songbirds exhibit a captivating dark brown cap, a modest black bib, cinnamon-toned sides, and a resplendent white hue on their undersides and cheeks.
Scientific Name: Poecile hudsonicus
Length: 4.9-5.5 inches (12.5-14 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.4 ounces (7-12.4 g)
The Boreal Chickadees gracefully navigate Canadian and Alaskan terrains, occasionally venturing into northern regions of the United States. Their preferred haunts encompass coniferous forests, often in proximity to water bodies, although they also find solace in deciduous or mixed forests. These resourceful creatures thrive on a diet that primarily consists of seeds and insects, procured from the upper canopy regions, while showcasing a penchant for exploring various feeders.
To beckon Boreal Chickadees into your welcoming sanctuary, entice them with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, peanuts, or mouthwatering mealworms through an assortment of feeder types. Additionally, providing a nesting box augments the chances of attracting a breeding pair.
Fun Fact: Boreal Chickadees exhibit a remarkable ability to store seeds and insects, preparing meticulously for the unforgiving winter months.
4. Mountain Chickadee
Canada serves as a year-round home for Mountain Chickadees, predominantly gracing the southwestern provinces, occasionally accounting for around 1% of both summer and winter checklists.
These captivating creatures boast small frames adorned with black-and-white heads, seamlessly blending with their gray bodies. The back showcases darker tones, while the underbelly glistens with a light gray hue.
Scientific Name: Poecile gambeli
Length: 4.3-5.5 inches (11-14 cm)
Weight: 0.4 ounces (11 g)
Mountain Chickadees find solace in the lofty mountain ranges of western United States throughout the year, forgoing the need for migration. During winter, they may descend to lower altitudes. Evergreen forests, particularly those populated with pine and coniferous trees, serve as their preferred dwelling places. In their quest for sustenance, Mountain Chickadees showcase a versatile palate, relishing insects, spiders, nuts, seeds, and demonstrating a proclivity for storing food for future consumption.
Welcoming Mountain Chickadees to your surroundings entails offering enticing accommodations such as nest boxes. Additionally, indulging their gastronomic desires with black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, nyjer, suet, and peanut butter ensures their continued presence at an array of feeders.
Fun Fact: Mountain Chickadees exhibit an extended incubation period for their eggs compared to other Chickadee species, a testament to the protective qualities afforded by their utilization of old woodpecker nests and the female’s diligent egg-covering behavior.
5. Gray-headed Chickadee
Gray-headed Chickadees, though observed sporadically, grace Canadian territories, with sightings primarily recorded around Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Distinguished by their dark brown caps, contrasting black chin and eye stripe, and inviting white cheeks, these enchanting birds feature brown backs, dark gray wings adorned with delicate streaks of white, and pale brown sides.
Scientific Name: Poecile cinctus
Length: Approximately 5.3-5.5 inches (13.5-14 cm)
Weight: Approximately 0.4-0.5 ounces (11-14.3 g)
Gray-headed Chickadees establish their habitat across Alaska, northwestern Canada, and even venture into the vast expanses of northern Europe, eschewing the need for migration. These elusive birds favor arctic streamside thickets, characterized by willow and spruce. Their preference for remote locations renders their discovery a challenging endeavor. Nutritious insects, spiders, and an assortment of seeds constitute their preferred sustenance, with diligent food caching practices serving as their survival strategy during harsh winters.
To catch a glimpse of Gray-headed Chickadees in your vicinity, a journey to these remote habitats becomes necessary. However, alluring them with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, peanuts, and the enticing aroma of mealworms enhances the probability of an enchanting encounter.
6. Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadees, regarded as rare or incidental species in Canada, have occasionally graced southern Ontario with their presence.
Adorned with petite frames and featuring prominent black caps and throats, white cheeks and bellies, as well as soft gray plumage
enshrouding their backs, wings, and tails, these delightful birds exhibit striking similarities to their Black-capped counterparts. However, their overlapping ranges remain limited, hindering opportunities for interbreeding.
Scientific Name: Poecile carolinensis
Length: 3.9-4.7 inches (10-12 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.4 ounces (8-12 g)
Wingspan: 5.9-7.9 inches (15-20 cm)
Carolina Chickadees call eastern and southeastern states of the United States their year-round home. Forested areas, verdant parks, and inviting backyards form their favored domains. In summer, they primarily indulge in insects and spiders, while their winter diet incorporates a greater proportion of plant material.
To beckon Carolina Chickadees to your backyard, entice them with offerings of black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet feeders, or tantalizing peanuts. They display an affinity for various feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders. Additionally, providing nest boxes or nest tubes increases the likelihood of their nesting presence.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Backyard
Witnessing the delightful endeavors of Chickadees in your backyard becomes an achievable feat by employing a few simple strategies:
1. Provide an assortment of delectable offerings such as black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Embrace various feeder types, including tube feeders, platform feeders, or suet cages.
3. A water source, preferably a birdbath with running water, offers an additional allure.
4. Cultivate berry-producing trees and shrubs to attract insects, ensuring a bountiful food supply.
5. Abstain from employing pesticides or herbicides, as Chickadees rely on insects as a crucial component of their diet.
6. Foster a welcoming environment with an abundance of trees and shrubs, offering shelter and nesting opportunities.
7. Provide nest boxes with small holes, raised 5-15 feet above the ground, enticing Chickadees to establish a homestead.
8. Keep cats indoors to ensure the safety of visiting birds.
9. Exercise patience, as it may take time for these delightful creatures to discover your yard and feeders.
Chickadee Songs and Calls
The captivating melodies and calls of Chickadees add an enchanting symphony to the natural ambiance. While the famous “chick-a-dee” call is commonly associated with these birds, it serves as a mild alarm or contact call, whereas their true song takes the form of a melodious “fee bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
This resounding tune is exclusively produced by males, characterized by a higher pitch in the first note compared to the second. Male Chickadees tend to maintain distance from their counterparts while serenading the surroundings.
2. Faint Fee-bee
Both males and females employ this call, often signaling the need for the male to provide nourishment while the female dutifully incubates their offspring. It also serves as a communication tool between parents and their young.
3. Chick-a-dee Call
Serving as a mild alarm call, the chick-a-dee call facilitates coordination among flock members, ensuring synchronized movements and heightened vigilance against potential threats.
4. Gargle
Consisting of a series of two to nine short notes, the gargle call acts as a warning signal, deterring other Chickadees from encroaching upon their personal space or feeders.
5. Begging Call
Young Chickadees employ this bee-like call to implore their parents for nourishment, ensuring their continued growth and development.
6. High Seet Call
The high seet call functions as an alarm call, alerting fellow Chickadees to the presence of predators, thereby promoting heightened vigilance and protective measures.
Frequent Sightings of Chickadees in Canada (Summer and Winter)
Delving into the frequency of Chickadee sightings across Canada during summer and winter unveils intriguing insights gleaned from checklists compiled on ebird.
Chickadees in Canada during Summer:
– Black-capped Chickadee: 35.4%
– Chestnut-backed Chickadee: 2.7%
– Boreal Chickadee: 1.6%
– Mountain Chickadee: 1.0%
– Carolina Chickadee: Less than 0.1%
– Gray-headed Chickadee: Less than 0.1%
Chickadees in Canada during Winter:
– Black-capped Chickadee: 52.9%
– Chestnut-backed Chickadee: 3.9%
– Boreal Chickadee: 2.1%
– Mountain Chickadee: 1.4%