In Illinois, this comprehensive manual will assist you in recognizing all the various species of Chickadees that can be observed. Accompanied by photo identifications, descriptions, audio recordings of their melodic tunes, intriguing facts, and more.
Chickadees, those industrious small songbirds, gracefully flit around in search of insects, readily paying visits to backyard feeders. Belonging to the avian family known as Poecile, these delightful creatures comprise only seven distinct species of Chickadees, all of which exclusively inhabit North America.
Within the borders of Illinois, three particular species of Chickadees can be glimpsed. The Black-capped Chickadees, known for their prevalence, are remarkably common, while the Carolina Chickadees also make occasional appearances. However, Boreal Chickadees are considered rare visitors to this region.
Unlike migrating birds, Chickadees may engage in seasonal travels to lower altitudes during winter. To endure the harshness of the cold months, scientific studies have revealed that Chickadees employ various strategies such as storing food, seeking refuge in cavities, and entering a regulated state of nocturnal hypothermia to conserve energy.
Due to their elevated body temperature and constant energy requirements, Chickadees possess an insatiable appetite, devouring an amount of food equivalent to their own body weight each day!
Typically, the lifespan of Chickadees is rather short, spanning a mere two to three years. In fact, some individuals may only experience a single year as adults, encompassing just one breeding season. However, it has been documented that certain Chickadees have defied the odds, living up to twelve years.
Distinguishing male from female Chickadees can pose a challenge since their physical appearances are nearly identical. However, there is one distinguishing characteristic—the delightful song known as the ‘Fee Bee’ is exclusively sung by the male Chickadees.
It is worth noting that Black-capped Chickadees and Carolina Chickadees bear a striking resemblance, although the former exhibits more prominent white markings on its wings and produces a two-note song, in contrast to the four-note song of the Carolina Chickadee.
Chickadees exhibit a diverse diet consisting of insects and seeds, frequently visiting backyard feeders in search of nourishing seeds or suet. Discover other avian species commonly encountered in Illinois and obtain a complimentary identification chart.
This manual serves as an invaluable tool for identifying the various Chickadee species residing in Illinois, drawing upon the resources of avibase and incorporating data collected from avid bird enthusiasts participating in ebird, thus ensuring the provision of accurate information regarding the temporal occurrence of these delightful creatures.
3 Distinct Chickadee Varieties in Illinois:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadees are permanent residents of Illinois, primarily concentrated in the northern regions of the state. They have been observed in approximately 27% of summer checklists and 33% of winter checklists submitted by diligent bird watchers across the state.
Featuring endearing round heads and petite bodies, Black-capped Chickadees are charming avian creatures. Eagerly feeding on backyard feeders, they exhibit a curious nature, investigating their surroundings, including human observers!
These Chickadees possess black caps, beaks, and throats, complemented by white cheeks. Their back, wings, and tail boast a gray hue, while their bellies appear lighter. Interestingly, they bear a striking resemblance to Carolina Chickadees.
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 do not migrate and can be observed throughout the northern half of the United States and Canada.
These delightful birds can be found in forests, open woodlands, and parks. Their diet consists of seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and suet.
Call/Song of the Black-capped Chickadee:
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
Black-capped Chickadees predominantly utilize old woodpecker nests as their preferred nesting sites. However, they may also construct their own cavities within decaying branches. Both male and female Chickadees partake in nest construction, with the female lining the nest using moss and subsequently incorporating softer materials like fur.
Each clutch can contain a substantial number of up to thirteen eggs, which require approximately two weeks to hatch. The young chicks remain in the nest for an additional two weeks before venturing out into the world.
To attract Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard, consider offering suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. These friendly birds may even feed directly from your hand, often among the first to discover new feeders. Additionally, providing nest boxes filled with wood shavings can further entice their nesting presence.
Fun Fact: Black-capped Chickadees possess remarkable brains that annually shed old neurons, discarding unnecessary information and replacing them with new neurons and fresh knowledge.
2. Carolina Chickadee
Throughout the year, Carolina Chickadees can be observed in Illinois, predominantly within the southern regions of the state. They have been reported in approximately 2% of summer checklists and 4% of winter checklists.
Carolina Chickadees exhibit diminutive statures, adorned with prominent heads, black caps and throats, white cheeks and bellies, and soft gray backs, wings, and tails.
These charming birds bear a striking resemblance to their Black-capped counterparts and, on occasion, may interbreed in regions where their ranges overlap. Nevertheless, their habitats rarely intersect. Furthermore, the Black-capped Chickadee showcases more pronounced white wing markings in comparison to the Carolina Chickadee.
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 reside year-round in the eastern and southeastern states of the United States.
These delightful birds can be found in wooded areas, parks, and even backyards. In the summer months, they predominantly feed on insects and spiders, while their winter diet encompasses approximately half plant material.
Carolina Chickadee Song:
Credit: Brian Hendrix, XC572217. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/572217.
Carolina Chickadees fashion their nests within self-made holes or existing cavities originally crafted by other species or naturally occurring. They line these cavities with moss, subsequently incorporating softer materials like hair. Each clutch typically contains up to ten eggs, requiring around two weeks for hatching, followed by an additional two to three weeks before the fledglings depart the nest.
To entice Carolina Chickadees to visit your backyard feeders, consider offering black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet feeders, or peanuts. These charming birds are known to frequent various types of feeders, including tube feeders, suet cages, and platform feeders. Additionally, they may opt to nest within nest boxes or nest tubes.
3. Boreal Chickadee
Boreal Chickadees are exceedingly rare sightings within Illinois, yet they have been acknowledged by the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee and listed for review.
With their tiny frames and grayish-brown plumage, Boreal Chickadees are captivating songbirds. They showcase a dark brown cap, small black bib, cinnamon-colored sides, and white 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)
Boreal Chickadees primarily inhabit Canada and Alaska but may occasionally venture into the northern regions of the United States.
These delightful birds can be mostly found in coniferous forests, often in close proximity to water sources. However, they can also be encountered in deciduous or mixed forests. Their diet primarily consists of seeds and insects, acquired from the upper reaches of the forest canopy, and they readily visit feeders.
Credit: Ken Hall, XC511286. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/511286.
Boreal Chickadees typically nest within dead trees, with the female responsible for creating the cavity. The nest is lined with moss and bark, incorporating softer materials like hair and feathers. Each clutch comprises up to nine eggs, which hatch after slightly over two weeks.
To attract Boreal Chickadees to your backyard, consider providing black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, peanuts, and mealworms through various feeder types. Additionally, installing a nesting box with a small entrance hole, elevated 5-15 feet above the ground, may entice a mating pair.
Fun Fact: Boreal Chickadees diligently store seeds and insects, ensuring their sustenance throughout the long and harsh winter.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Backyard
Chickadees possess an enchanting presence, ceaselessly bustling to procure sufficient nourishment. If you aspire to witness more of these adorable avian creatures in your vicinity, take steps to attract them to your yard.
- Supply feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
- Various feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, and platform feeders, cater to their feeding preferences.
- Provide a water source, such as a birdbath, preferably with running water.
- Plant trees and shrubs that produce berries, attracting insects—a vital component of their diet.
- Avoid using pesticides or herbicides, as Chickadees rely on insects as a food source.
- Offer shelter by planting trees and shrubs.
- Install nest boxes with a small entrance hole measuring 1 1/8 inches, positioned 5-15 feet above the ground.
- Ensure that cats are kept indoors to protect the avian visitors.
- 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 signature “chick a dee” call, which, in reality, serves as a mild alarm or contact call. Their melodic song is akin to a “fee bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
Produced exclusively by males.
The first note exhibits a higher pitch than the second.
Males distance themselves from other males when 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 incubating eggs.
Used for communication between parents and their young.
3. Chick-a-dee call
Mild alarm call.
Contact calls within flocks.
Coordinate 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.
Used when birds come too close in flocks or at feeding areas.
Serves as a warning call, prompting other Chickadees to move further away.
Credit: Todd Wilson, XC42956. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
Young Chickadees emit “bee” calls to request food from their parents.
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
Alarm call indicating the presence of predators.
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.
Frequency of Chickadee Sightings in Illinois during Summer and Winter
Checklists serve as valuable resources for discerning the most frequently observed avian species within a particular state. These lists outline the prevalence of Chickadee sightings on ebird checklists during summer and winter in Illinois.
Chickadees in Illinois during Summer:
Black-capped Chickadee: 27.6%
Carolina Chickadee: 2.8%
Chickadees in Illinois during Winter:
Black-capped Chickadee: 33.8%
Carolina Chickadee: 4.5%