Discover the array of Chickadee species that grace the picturesque landscapes of New Brunswick. Unveil their identities through captivating photo IDs and vivid descriptions, complemented by enchanting audio recordings of their melodious tunes. Delight in fascinating facts about these charming creatures, and so much more.
Chickadees, those bustling avian minstrels, flit about in search of insects, readily gracing backyard feeders with their presence. Belonging to the esteemed Poecile family, these delightful songbirds comprise a mere seven species, all of which call North America their home.
In the province of New Brunswick, one can spot two distinct types of Chickadees. The most prevalent among them are the Black-capped Chickadees, their ebony crowns adorning their petite frames. Yet, Boreal Chickadees also make occasional appearances.
Unlike migratory birds, Chickadees do not embark on epic journeys, although they may descend to lower altitudes during wintertime. To survive the frigid months, studies have revealed their remarkable strategies: caching food, seeking shelter in cavities, and entering a regulated nocturnal hypothermic state to conserve energy.
Due to their high body temperature and insatiable appetite, Chickadees voraciously consume an amount of food equivalent to their own weight each day!
Regrettably, Chickadees’ lifespans tend to be relatively brief, typically spanning a mere two or three years. As adults, they might only experience a single breeding season. However, extraordinary accounts exist of Chickadees defying expectations, living up to twelve years.
Distinguishing male from female Chickadees can prove challenging, as they possess similar appearances. Nevertheless, one telltale difference lies in the male’s resonant song, the mellifluous ‘Fee-bee.’
Insects and seeds compose the diet of Chickadees, often luring them to backyard feeders in search of seeds or suet. Unveil the myriad other backyard birds frequently gracing the splendid environs of New Brunswick, and obtain a complimentary identification chart.
This invaluable guide serves to identify the diverse Chickadee species encountered in New Brunswick, utilizing information sourced from avibase and data contributed by passionate birdwatchers through ebird. Uncover genuine insights into the precise timing of these avian wonders’ appearances.
Two Distinct Chickadee Varieties in New Brunswick:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
Throughout the year, Black-capped Chickadees proudly claim residency in New Brunswick. Defying migration, they feature in 40% of summer checklists and 57% of winter checklists submitted by avid birdwatchers within the province.
Characterized by endearing round heads and diminutive bodies, Black-capped Chickadees captivate onlookers. Their unabashed curiosity leads them to explore everything, including the observers themselves!
Sporting ebony crowns, beaks, and throats, these charming birds exhibit white cheeks, with shades of gray adorning their backs, wings, and tails. Their bellies possess a lighter hue, bearing a striking resemblance to Carolina Chickadees.
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 refrain from migratory endeavors, delighting in the northern reaches of the United States and Canada.
Forested areas, open woodlands, and parks serve as preferred haunts for Black-capped Chickadees. Their diet encompasses seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and delectable suet.
Black-capped Chickadee Call/Song:
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
Black-capped Chickadees typically nest within abandoned woodpecker nests. Alternatively, they may fashion their own cavity within decaying branches. Both male and female Chickadees contribute to nest construction, with the female subsequently lining it with moss and other soft materials, such as fur.
Their sizable clutches may comprise up to thirteen eggs, requiring approximately two weeks for incubation, followed by an additional two weeks for the fledglings to venture forth.
Entice Black-capped Chickadees to grace your backyard by providing suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. These friendly creatures may even partake of treats directly from your hand, often being among the first to discover new feeders. Nest boxes, particularly when filled with wood shavings, are also met with their approval.
Fun Fact: Black-capped Chickadees boast extraordinary brains, annually shedding old neurons to relinquish outdated information and eagerly welcoming fresh neurons and knowledge.
2. Boreal Chickadee
While less common in New Brunswick, Boreal Chickadees do call it their year-round abode. They account for a mere 1% of summer and winter checklists compiled within the province.
These diminutive grayish-brown songbirds feature dark brown caps, dainty black bibs, cinnamon-hued flanks, and pristine white undersides and cheeks.
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, occasionally venturing into the northern states of the United States.
Coniferous forests serve as the favored dwelling places for Boreal Chickadees, often near bodies of water. Nevertheless, they may also be encountered in deciduous or mixed forests. Nourishing themselves with seeds and insects gathered from the upper reaches of the canopy, they readily visit feeding stations.
Credit: Ken Hall, XC511286. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/511286.
Boreal Chickadees typically establish their nests within deceased trees, diligently excavating cavities under the female’s guidance. Lining these cozy retreats with moss, bark, and subsequently softer materials like hair and feathers, they proceed to lay clutches of up to nine eggs. These eggs hatch after slightly over two weeks of incubation.
Entice Boreal Chickadees to frequent your backyard by offering black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, peanuts, and mealworms through various types of feeders. Erecting a nesting box heightens your chances of attracting a breeding pair.
Fun Fact: Boreal Chickadees diligently hoard seeds and insects, preparing for the extended, inclement winter.
Inviting Chickadees to Your Backyard
The delightful sight of Chickadees ceaselessly scurrying to satiate their appetites is an absolute joy to behold. To welcome these adorable avians into your yard, consider the following steps:
1. Provide an assortment of nourishment, such as black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Opt for various feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders, to accommodate their feeding preferences.
3. Furnish a water source, ideally a birdbath with a gentle flow of water, to quench their thirst.
4. Cultivate berry-producing trees and shrubs, attracting insects that form a vital part of their diet.
5. Refrain from using pesticides or herbicides, as Chickadees rely on insects for sustenance.
6. Foster shelter through the strategic placement of trees and shrubs, providing secure resting and roosting spots.
7. Install nest boxes, equipped with a small hole measuring 1 1/8 inches, elevated between 5 and 15 feet above the ground.
8. Keep domestic cats indoors to ensure the safety of visiting birds.
9. Exercise patience, as it may take time for Chickadees to discover your yard and feeders, but the reward is well worth the wait.
Chickadee Songs and Calls
Chickadees have garnered renown for their characteristic “chick a dee” call, yet this vocalization serves as a mild alarm or contact call, while their actual song manifests as a delightful “fee bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
Produced exclusively by males
The initial note boasts a higher pitch compared to the second
Males tend to distance themselves from one another when engaging in song
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Accessible 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 incubating
Used in communication between parents and their young
3. Chick-a-dee call
Serves as a mild alarm call
Contact calls within flocks
Coordinates movement within flocks
Credit: GABRIEL LEITE, XC420822. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/420822.
4. Gargle
Comprises a series of two to nine short notes
Employed when birds encroach upon one another’s personal space in flocks or near feeders
Functions as a warning call, urging other Chickadees to retreat
Credit: Todd Wilson, XC42956. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
Juvenile Chickadees emit bee-like calls, enticing their parents to feed them
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
An alarm call indicating the presence of predators
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.
Frequency of Chickadee Sightings in New Brunswick during Summer and Winter
Checklists provide invaluable insights into the prevalence of various bird species within a particular region. In the case of New Brunswick, these compilations shed light on the Chickadee species most frequently recorded during summer and winter on ebird.
Chickadees in New Brunswick during Summer:
Black-capped Chickadee – 40.2%
Boreal Chickadee – 1.8%
Chickadees in New Brunswick during Winter:
Black-capped Chickadee – 57.9%
Boreal Chickadee – 0.8%