In Nebraska, this comprehensive handbook will aid you in distinguishing the various species of Chickadees. Equipped with photo identification, detailed descriptions, enchanting audio recordings of their melodious tunes, and intriguing facts, this guide offers more than meets the eye.
Chickadees, those lively and agile songbirds, flutter ceaselessly, scouring their surroundings for insects, and they readily grace backyard feeders. Belonging to the Poecile family, these avian wonders comprise a mere seven species, all of which thrive in the vast lands of North America.
Within the borders of Nebraska, two distinct varieties of chickadees can be found. The commonly sighted Black-capped Chickadees maintain a regular presence, while the Mountain Chickadees are occasional guests, their appearances being rare.
While chickadees do not embark on migratory journeys, they may seek refuge in lower elevations during the winter months. To endure the chilly grasp of winter, studies have shown that chickadees store food, nestle within cavities, and undergo regulated nocturnal hypothermia to conserve energy.
Due to their elevated body temperature and insatiable appetite, chickadees have an extraordinary craving, devouring an amount of food equivalent to their own body weight each day!
These captivating creatures do not usually enjoy a long lifespan, typically living only two to three years. As adults, they may only have a single breeding season, and sometimes their lives come to a close after merely a year. However, records indicate the existence of chickadees that have defied the odds, flourishing for a remarkable twelve years.
Distinguishing between male and female chickadees poses a challenge as they exhibit similar physical appearances. However, it is worth noting that only the males possess the ability to serenade the world with their resounding ‘Fee-bee’ song.
Insect and seed enthusiasts, chickadees frequently grace backyard feeders in search of nourishing sustenance. Discover other captivating avian species that frequently visit Nebraska’s backyards and obtain a complimentary identification chart.
This invaluable handbook draws its insights from avibase, relying on data gathered from avid birdwatchers through ebird. As a result, it presents authentic information concerning the timing of these bird sightings.
Nebraska boasts a pair of Chickadee species:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
The Black-capped Chickadee stands as a year-round resident of Nebraska. According to bird watchers’ checklists, they appear on approximately 17% of summer records and 24% of winter records submitted for the state.
With endearing round heads and petite bodies, Black-capped Chickadees charm all onlookers. Fearless in their pursuit, they happily explore everything, including human observers!
Sporting black caps, beaks, and throats, they showcase white cheeks, while their backs, wings, and tails display shades of gray. Their bellies boast a lighter hue, rendering them remarkably similar to Carolina Chickadees.
Poecile atricapillus
Length: 4.7-5.9 in (12-15 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-14 g)
Wingspan: 6.3-8.3 in (16-21 cm)
Black-capped Chickadees do not engage in migratory journeys, preferring to dwell in the northern regions of the United States and Canada.
These delightful creatures can be encountered in forests, open woodlands, and parks. They feed on an assortment 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.
Nests crafted by Black-capped Chickadees often occupy abandoned woodpecker nests, but they may fashion their own cavities within decaying branches. Both males and females contribute to the nest construction process. The female, after laying a foundation of moss, proceeds to line it with softer materials like fur.
Their clutch size can be quite substantial, with the potential to contain up to thirteen eggs. Incubation lasts approximately two weeks, followed by an additional fortnight for the young to fledge.
To entice Black-capped Chickadees to grace your backyard, offer them suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. They may even feed directly from your hand, often among the first to discover new feeding stations. Nest boxes, filled with wood shavings, are also well-received by these charming birds.
Fun fact: Black-capped Chickadees boast remarkable brain plasticity, annually shedding old neural connections to discard irrelevant information, making room for new neurons and knowledge.
2. Mountain Chickadee
Mountain Chickadees, considered rare or fortuitous visitors to Nebraska, have occasionally been sighted in the western regions of the state from October to April.
Adorned with black-and-white heads, complemented by gray plumage, these diminutive birds display darker shades on their backs and lighter hues beneath.
Poecile gambeli
Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
Weight: 0.4 oz (11 g)
Mountain Chickadees establish their year-round habitats in the mountainous areas of the western United States, refraining from migratory endeavors. However, during winter, they may descend to lower altitudes.
Evergreen forests, especially those housing pine and coniferous trees, serve as the preferred dwelling places for Mountain Chickadees. They relish insects, spiders, nuts, seeds, and often frequent backyard feeders. These resourceful birds frequently hoard food, creating a reserve for later consumption.
Credit: Richard E. Webster, XC619853. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/619853.
Mountain Chickadees typically select abandoned nesting sites previously inhabited by woodpeckers and nuthatches. The female lines the cavity with fur and diligently covers her eggs whenever she leaves. Clutches consist of up to nine eggs, requiring approximately two weeks of incubation, followed by an additional three weeks before the fledglings leave the nest.
To allure Mountain Chickadees to your yard, erect nest boxes and stock them with black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, nyjer, suet, and peanut butter.
Fun fact: Compared to other chickadee species, Mountain Chickadees incubate their eggs for 50% longer. This prolonged duration is likely due to the protective nature of old woodpecker nests, coupled with the female’s tendency to cover her eggs when leaving the nest.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Backyard
Witnessing the ceaseless flurry of chickadees in their quest for sustenance proves a delightful spectacle. To invite more of these charming avian creatures to your yard, consider implementing the following measures:
1. Provide feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Select various feeder types, such as tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders.
3. Establish a water source, preferably a birdbath with running water.
4. Cultivate berry-producing trees and shrubs that attract insects.
5. Abstain from using pesticides or herbicides, as chickadees rely on insects for sustenance.
6. Create shelter through the planting of trees and shrubs.
7. Install nest boxes with small entrance holes measuring 1 1/8 inches and position them 5-15 feet above the ground.
8. Ensure cats are kept indoors to protect the avian visitors.
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, often mistaken as their namesake. In reality, this call serves as a mild alarm or contact call, while their actual song emits a charming “fee bee” sound.
Sounds of the Chickadees:
1. Fee-bee
Produced exclusively by males
First note possesses a higher pitch than the second
Males distance themselves from other males while singing
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 summon the male for feeding while she incubates
Used as a form of communication between parents and young
3. Chick-a-dee call
Mild alarm call
Serves as a contact call among flocks
Coordinates movements within flocks
Credit: GABRIEL LEITE, XC420822. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/420822.
4. Gargle
Comprises a series of two to nine short notes
Used when birds encroach too closely in flocks or near feeders
Serves as a warning call, encouraging other chickadees to retreat
Credit: Todd Wilson, XC42956. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
Young chickadees emit bee-like calls to entice their parents to feed them
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
An alarm call indicating the presence of predators
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.
Frequency of Chickadee Sightings in Nebraska during Summer and Winter
Checklists provide valuable insights into the common bird species observed within a particular state. Based on ebird checklists, we can discern the prevalence of different chickadee species during Nebraska’s summer and winter seasons.
Chickadees in Nebraska during Summer:
Black-capped Chickadee: 17.0%
Chickadees in Nebraska during Winter:
Black-capped Chickadee: 24.8%
Mountain Chickadee: 0.1%