This handbook will assist you in identifying the various species of Chickadees that can be observed in Kentucky. It includes photo identifications, descriptions, audio recordings of their melodic tunes, intriguing facts, and more.
Chickadees are lively little avian songsters that dart around in search of insects, readily paying visits to backyard feeders. They belong to the Poecile family, comprising merely seven distinct species, all of which reside in North America.
Within Kentucky, only two species of chickadees can be sighted: the Carolina Chickadee and the Black-capped Chickadee.
While chickadees do not undertake migrations, they may venture to lower grounds during winter. To endure the chilly winter months, scientific studies have revealed that these birds engage in food caching, take refuge in cavities, and enter a state of regulated nocturnal hypothermia to conserve energy.
Due to their high body temperature and voracious appetite, chickadees have an insatiable hunger, consuming an amount of food equivalent to their own body weight each day!
Chickadees typically have a relatively short lifespan, lasting only about two to three years. As adults, they may survive for a mere year, with just one breeding season. However, there have been recorded instances of chickadees living up to twelve years.
Distinguishing male and female chickadees can be challenging as they appear identical, except for the males’ ability to produce a loud “Fee Bee” song.
Furthermore, Black-capped Chickadees and Carolina Chickadees bear a striking resemblance to each other. However, Black-capped Chickadees possess more white feathers on their wings and emit a two-note song instead of the four-note song sung by Carolina Chickadees.
Chickadees feast on insects and seeds, often flocking to backyard feeders in search of nourishing seeds or suet. Discover the other varieties of backyard birds commonly found in Kentucky and obtain a complimentary identification chart.
This comprehensive guide is designed to aid in the identification of Chickadee species spotted in Kentucky, sourcing information from reputable bird-watching platforms such as avibase and ebird, where data collected from avid birdwatchers is compiled to provide accurate information about the timing of Chickadee sightings.
Kentucky’s Chickadee Species:
1. Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadees are year-round residents of Kentucky, yet they are more commonly observed during the winter months, from September to May. They feature on 39% of checklists during the summer and 48% during the winter, as reported by diligent birdwatchers in the state.
Carolina Chickadees are diminutive birds adorned with prominent heads, black caps and throats, white cheeks and bellies, and soft gray backs, wings, and tails.
Their resemblance to the Black-capped Chickadee is remarkable, and in areas where their territories overlap, interbreeding occurs. However, the range of these two species does not intersect in many locations. Additionally, Black-capped Chickadees exhibit more prominent white markings on their wings compared to Carolina Chickadees.
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 can be found throughout the eastern and southeastern regions of the United States.
These delightful birds can be spotted in forested areas, parks, and even your own backyard. During summer, they primarily feed on insects and spiders, while about half of their winter diet consists of plant material.
Carolina Chickadee Song:
Credit:
Brian Hendrix, XC572217. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/572217.
Carolina Chickadees construct nests within self-made cavities, pre-existing nests of other species, or natural cavities. They line the nest with moss and subsequently add softer materials such as hair. The female lays up to ten eggs, which require approximately two weeks to hatch. The young ones take an additional two to three weeks before leaving the nest.
To attract Carolina Chickadees to your backyard feeders, provide black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet feeders, or peanuts. These birds will happily visit various feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, and platform feeders. They also readily utilize nest boxes or nest tubes.
2. Black-capped Chickadee
While considered rare or accidental in Kentucky, Black-capped Chickadees have occasionally been spotted in the eastern part of the state during winter.
Black-capped Chickadees possess an endearing appearance, characterized by round heads and petite bodies. These charming creatures eagerly frequent backyard feeders and curiously investigate their surroundings, including human observers!
Their distinguishing features include black caps, beaks, and throats, complemented by white cheeks. Their backs, wings, and tails exhibit shades of gray, while their bellies appear lighter. Remarkably, they bear a strong 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 found across the northern half of the United States and Canada.
These delightful birds are commonly found in forests, open woods, and parks. Their diet includes seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and suet.
Black-capped Chickadee Call/Song:
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
Black-capped Chickadees typically nest in old woodpecker cavities, although they are also known to create their own cavities within decaying branches. Both males and females partake in constructing the nest, with the female lining it with moss and other soft materials, such as fur.
They lay relatively large clutches of up to thirteen eggs, which take approximately two weeks to hatch. The young birds remain in the nest for an additional two weeks before taking flight.
To entice Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard, offer suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. These charming birds may even feed from your hand, often being among the first to discover new feeders. They also readily utilize nest boxes, particularly when filled with wood shavings.
Fun fact: Black-capped Chickadees possess remarkable brains that allow them to shed unnecessary information each year. They discard old neurons, making way for new ones and fresh information.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Backyard
Observing the constant flurry of chickadees as they gather sustenance is an absolute joy. If you desire to welcome more of these adorable avian creatures to your yard, here are some tips:
1. Supply feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Utilize various types of feeders, including tube feeders, suet cages, and platform feeders.
3. Provide a water source, such as a birdbath, preferably with running water.
4. Plant trees and shrubs that produce berries, attracting insects that chickadees feed on.
5. Refrain from using pesticides or herbicides, as chickadees rely on insects for sustenance.
6. Create shelter with strategically placed trees and shrubs.
7. Offer nest boxes with a small hole diameter of 1 1/8 inches, positioned 5 to 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. Their actual song consists of a pleasant “fee bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
– Produced by male chickadees
– The first note is higher in pitch than the second note
– Males tend to move away from other males while singing
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
2. Faint Fee-bee
– Produced by both male and female chickadees
– Female uses this call to summon the male for feeding while she incubates the eggs
– Used for communication between parents and their offspring
3. Chick-a-dee call
– A mild alarm call
– Serves as a contact call within flocks
– Facilitates coordination of movements within flocks
Credit: GABRIEL LEITE, XC420822. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/420822.
4. Gargle
– Series of two to nine short notes
– Used as a warning call when birds get too close in flocks or at feeders
– Indicates the chickadee’s intent to make other birds retreat
Credit: Todd Wilson, XC42956. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
– Young chickadees emit “bee” calls to attract parental feeding
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
– Alarm call in response to the presence of predators
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.
Frequency of Chickadee Sightings in Kentucky during Summer and Winter
Checklists serve as valuable resources for determining the frequency of bird sightings in your state. Based on ebird checklists, the following percentages represent the prevalence of various chickadee species in Kentucky during summer and winter:
Chickadees in Kentucky during Summer:
Carolina Chickadee: 39.8%
Chickadees in Kentucky during Winter:
Carolina Chickadee: 48.1%
Black-capped Chickadee: <0.1%