Discover the diverse array of Chickadee species that can be observed in Oklahoma through this comprehensive handbook, equipped with photo identifications, detailed descriptions, melodious audio recordings of their enchanting songs, intriguing trivia, and more!
Chickadees, these industrious and melodious avian creatures, flit around in pursuit of insects while readily gracing backyard feeders. Belonging to the Poecile family of birds, these delightful beings encompass a mere seven species of Chickadee, all of which inhabit the vast terrain of North America.
Within the borders of Oklahoma, you can catch a glimpse of three distinct types of Chickadees. The Carolina Chickadee reigns as the most prevalent, yet both the Mountain Chickadee and the Black-capped Chickadee also make appearances.
While Chickadees do not undertake migratory journeys, they may venture to lower altitudes during winter months. To endure the frigid embrace of winter, research has uncovered their resourcefulness in stashing food, taking refuge in hollow spaces, and even entering a state of regulated nocturnal hypothermia to conserve energy.
Due to their elevated body temperature and insatiable appetite, Chickadees devour a quantity of food equivalent to their own body weight each day!
Regrettably, Chickadees tend to have short lifespans, typically spanning a mere two or three years. As adults, they may only experience a single year of existence, with just one breeding season to their name. However, records do exist of Chickadees defying the odds, surviving up to twelve years.
Differentiating between male and female Chickadees poses a challenge, as they share indistinguishable appearances, with the exception of males being the sole bearers of the resounding “Fee-bee” song.
Moreover, Black-capped Chickadees and Carolina Chickadees possess striking similarities, yet Black-capped Chickadees showcase more wing whiteness and vocalize a two-note melody, diverging from Carolina Chickadees’ distinctive four-note song.
Chickadees sustain themselves by feasting on insects and seeds, frequently seeking sustenance at backyard feeders. Uncover the myriad of backyard bird species that grace Oklahoma’s landscapes, and avail yourself of a complimentary identification chart.
This invaluable guide serves to aid in identifying the Chickadee varieties found in Oklahoma, drawing from avibase as a wellspring of information while incorporating data meticulously compiled by avid birdwatchers on ebird, ensuring the provision of genuine and accurate insights concerning the opportune moments to spot these avian wonders.
Three Distinct Chickadee Species in Oklahoma:
1. Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadees, displaying a steadfast refusal to migrate, grace the Oklahoma skies throughout the year. Approximately 30% of summer checklists and 36% of winter checklists submitted by devoted birdwatchers bear testimony to their year-round presence in the state.
These diminutive birds possess sizable heads, adorned with black caps and throats. Their cheeks and bellies radiate a pure white hue, while their soft gray backs, wings, and tails exude an understated elegance.
Closely resembling their Black-capped counterparts, Carolina Chickadees occasionally interbreed where their ranges overlap, although such overlaps remain limited. Notably, Black-capped Chickadees exhibit more prominent wing whiteness in contrast 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 inhabit the eastern and southeastern regions of the United States throughout the year.
These delightful creatures can be spotted in forested areas, parks, and even residential backyards. During the summer, their diet predominantly consists of insects and spiders, while roughly half of their wintertime sustenance derives from plant matter.
Carolina Chickadee Song:
Acknowledgment: Brian Hendrix, XC572217. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/572217.
Carolina Chickadees craft their nests within self-made cavities or previously established ones fashioned by other species or natural hollows. These cozy dwellings are lined with moss, followed by softer materials like hair. A clutch of up to ten eggs is incubated for approximately two weeks, and it takes an additional two to three weeks for the fledglings to depart the nest.
To beckon Carolina Chickadees to your backyard feeders, tantalize their palates with offerings of black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet feeders, or peanuts. These charming birds will frequent various feeder types, be it tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders. They also exhibit a penchant for nesting within nest boxes or nest tubes.
2. Mountain Chickadee
While not frequently encountered in Oklahoma, the Mountain Chickadee has been sporadically sighted in the state’s northwestern regions during the winter season.
Mountain Chickadees present themselves as petite beings donning black-and-white head plumage, with the rest of their bodies adorned in shades of gray, featuring darker hues on their backs and lighter tones beneath.
Scientific Name: Poecile gambeli
Length: 4.3-5.5 inches (11-14 cm)
Weight: 0.4 ounces (11 g)
Mountain Chickadees inhabit the mountains stretching across the western United States, maintaining a year-round residence and forgoing migratory ventures. During winter, however, they may descend to lower altitudes.
Evergreen forests, particularly those adorned with pine and coniferous trees, serve as favored habitats for Mountain Chickadees. Their diet encompasses insects, spiders, nuts, and seeds, and they often grace backyard feeders. Remarkably, these avian marvels frequently hoard food, establishing a reserve for future sustenance.
Acknowledgment: Richard E. Webster, XC619853. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/619853.
Mountain Chickadees typically select abandoned nesting holes fashioned by woodpeckers and nuthatches as their primary breeding sites. The female diligently lines the cavity with fur and skillfully covers her eggs during her temporary departures. A clutch of up to nine eggs is nurtured for approximately two weeks until hatching, with the fledglings departing the nest after an additional three weeks.
To attract Mountain Chickadees to your yard, provide them with nest boxes and cater to their culinary preferences with offerings of black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, nyjer, suet, and peanut butter.
Fun Fact: Mountain Chickadees incubate their eggs for a remarkable 50% longer than other Chickadee species, possibly owing to the protective characteristics of their chosen nesting sites, which were originally inhabited by woodpeckers. Furthermore, the female Mountain Chickadee diligently conceals her eggs when she leaves the nest.
3. Black-capped Chickadee
While sightings of Black-capped Chickadees in Oklahoma are infrequent, a few recorded encounters have transpired from October through early January in the northern reaches of the state.
Black-capped Chickadees embody endearing avian creatures characterized by their sizable, round heads juxtaposed against their diminutive physiques. These birds joyfully partake in
backyard feeders and display an innate curiosity that extends to exploring their surroundings, including human observers!
With black caps, beaks, and throats, complemented by white cheeks, and gray plumage adorning their backs, wings, and tails, Black-capped Chickadees bear a remarkable 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 forgo migration, gracing the northern realms of the United States and Canada with their presence.
Forests, open woodlands, and parks serve as favored habitats for Black-capped Chickadees. Their diet comprises seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and suet.
Black-capped Chickadee Call/Song:
Acknowledgment: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
Black-capped Chickadees typically establish their nests within aged woodpecker nests. However, they may also craft their own cavities within decaying branches. Both males and females contribute to the nest-building process, with the female meticulously lining the cavity using moss and other soft materials, such as fur.
A notable feature of Black-capped Chickadees is their ability to lay a generous clutch of up to thirteen eggs. Incubation lasts approximately two weeks, followed by an additional two weeks before the young venture into the world beyond the nest.
To entice Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard, offer them suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. These delightful birds may even feed directly from your hand and often display an uncanny knack for discovering new feeders. Nest boxes, especially when filled with wood shavings, are also welcomed by these feathered friends.
Fun Fact: The brains of Black-capped Chickadees showcase remarkable adaptability, annually shedding old neurons to make room for new ones, effectively discarding outdated information while embracing fresh knowledge.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Backyard
Witnessing the lively antics of Chickadees as they diligently procure sustenance is a sheer delight. If you aspire to invite more of these endearing avian companions to your yard, consider the following measures:
1. Provide an assortment of feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Accommodate Chickadees’ feeding preferences by utilizing various feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders.
3. Establish a water source, preferably a birdbath with running water, to quench their thirst.
4. Cultivate berry-producing trees and shrubs, attracting insects that serve as a vital food source.
5. Refrain from using pesticides or herbicides, as Chickadees rely on insects for sustenance.
6. Create sheltered spaces with the inclusion of trees and shrubs.
7. Install nest boxes with small 1 1/8-inch holes, elevated 5 to 15 feet above the ground.
8. Keep cats indoors, ensuring the safety of both the feline companions and the avian visitors.
9. Exercise patience, as it may take some time for birds to discover and frequent your yard and feeders.
Chickadee Songs and Calls
Chickadees are renowned for their distinctive “chick a dee” call, which, contrary to popular belief, primarily functions as a mild alarm or contact call. Their actual song manifests as a melodious “fee bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
– Produced exclusively by males
– The first note exhibits a higher pitch compared to the second
– Males distance themselves from one another while singing
Acknowledgment: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
2. Faint Fee-bee
– Produced by both males and females
– Females employ this call to summon the male for feeding while incubating
– Utilized as a form of communication between parents and their young
3. Chick-a-dee call
– Functions as a mild alarm call
– Serves as a contact call within flocks
– Facilitates coordinated movements among flock members
Acknowledgment: GABRIEL LEITE, XC420822. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/420822.
4. Gargle
– Comprises a series of two to nine short notes
– Emitting this call signals discomfort when other birds encroach too closely, be it within flocks or around feeders
– Serves as a warning before engaging in defensive behaviors to establish distance
Acknowledgment: Todd Wilson, XC42956. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
– Young chickadees emit bee-like calls to elicit parental feeding behaviors
Acknowledgment: Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
– Serves as an alarm call when predators are present in the vicinity
Acknowledgment: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.
Chickadee Sightings in Oklahoma: Summer and Winter Frequencies
Consulting checklists proves instrumental in discerning the common avian inhabitants of a particular state. In the case of Oklahoma, ebird checklists shed light on the prevalence of Chickadee sightings during the summer and winter seasons.
Chickadees in Oklahoma in Summer:
– Carolina Chickadee: 30.4%
– Mountain Chickadee: <0.1%
Chickadees in Oklahoma in Winter:
– Carolina Chickadee: 36.1%
– Mountain Chickadee: 0.1%
– Black-capped Chickadee: <0.1%