Discover the diverse assortment of Chickadee species that can be observed in Saskatchewan through captivating photo identifications, detailed descriptions, enchanting audio recordings of their melodious songs, and intriguing facts, along with additional valuable information.
Chickadees, those lively little songbirds that dart around in search of insects, readily grace backyard feeders with their presence. Belonging to the Poecile family, these charming birds represent merely seven distinct species of Chickadees, all of which thrive in North America.
Within Saskatchewan, one can spot three distinct types of Chickadees throughout the year. The most prevalent among them are the Black-capped Chickadees, while Boreal Chickadees are also frequently observed, and the appearance of Mountain Chickadees remains a rare occurrence.
Although Chickadees do not undertake long migrations, they may venture to lower altitudes during the winter months. In order to survive the harsh cold of winter, studies have revealed that Chickadees employ various strategies, including storing food, seeking shelter in cavities, and entering a state of regulated nocturnal hypothermia to conserve energy.
Due to their elevated body temperature and insatiable appetite, Chickadees consume an impressive amount of food each day, equivalent to their own body weight!
Typically, Chickadees have relatively short lifespans, spanning a mere two or three years, with some individuals surviving for only a year as adults and experiencing a solitary breeding season. However, there have been documented instances of Chickadees living up to twelve years.
Distinguishing between male and female Chickadees can prove challenging as they exhibit similar appearances, with one exception: only the males possess the ability to produce the resounding ‘Fee-bee’ song.
In their diet, Chickadees demonstrate a preference for insects and seeds, often visiting backyard feeders in search of seeds or suet. Explore the assortment of other backyard bird species that frequently grace Saskatchewan and obtain a complimentary identification chart.
This comprehensive guide serves as a valuable resource to identify the different Chickadee species present in Saskatchewan, drawing from data collected by birdwatchers on ebird and leveraging the information provided by Avibase.
The Three Types of Chickadees in Saskatchewan:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
Throughout the year, Black-capped Chickadees reside in Saskatchewan. While they are more prevalent in checklists during the winter season, this occurrence can be attributed to the absence of other birds during that time, leading to increased visits to feeders.
These delightful birds possess endearing features, such as their round heads and petite bodies. Black-capped Chickadees happily frequent backyard feeders, displaying curiosity towards everything, including humans!
Featuring black caps, beaks, and throats, along with white cheeks, these birds sport a gray plumage on their backs, wings, and tail, while their bellies exhibit a lighter shade. They bear 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 do not embark on migrations and can be observed in the northern regions of the United States and Canada.
You can find Black-capped Chickadees inhabiting forests, open woodlands, and parks. Their diet comprises seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and suet.
Black-capped Chickadee Call/Song:
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
Nests of Black-capped Chickadees are typically found within old woodpecker nests, while they may also create their own cavities in decaying branches. Both male and female Chickadees partake in constructing the nest, with the female subsequently lining it with moss and other soft materials like fur.
These resourceful birds can lay large clutches of up to thirteen eggs, which take approximately two weeks to hatch, with an additional two weeks until the fledglings leave the nest.
Entice Black-capped Chickadees to visit your backyard by offering suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. They may even feed from your hand, often being among the first to discover new feeders. They also exhibit a fondness for nest boxes, particularly when filled with wood shavings.
Fun fact: Black-capped Chickadees possess remarkable brains that shed unnecessary information by allowing old brain neurons to perish each year, replacing them with new neurons and knowledge.
2. Boreal Chickadee
While not as common in Saskatchewan, Boreal Chickadees can still be observed throughout the year, accounting for approximately 1% of summer and winter checklists.
These diminutive songbirds boast a grayish-brown appearance, donning a dark brown cap, a small black bib, cinnamon-toned sides, and 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 inhabit regions in Canada and Alaska, occasionally venturing into the northern states of the United States.
You can typically find Boreal Chickadees in coniferous forests, often near water sources, although they can also be spotted in deciduous or mixed forests. They primarily feed on seeds and insects found in the upper parts of the canopy and are known to visit feeders eagerly.
Credit: Ken Hall, XC511286. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/511286.
Nests of Boreal Chickadees are typically situated in dead trees, with the female creating the cavity. Moss and bark are employed to line the nest, followed by the addition of softer materials such as hair and feathers. They lay up to nine eggs, which require just over two weeks to hatch.
To attract Boreal Chickadees to your backyard, offer black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, peanuts, and mealworms through various feeder types. Additionally, placing a nesting box can entice a mating pair to take up residence.
Fun fact: Boreal Chickadees stockpile seeds and insects to ensure sustenance during the long and harsh winter months.
3. Mountain Chickadee
Within Saskatchewan, Mountain Chickadees are considered accidental visitors. These avian wonders are exceptionally rare in the province and have not been sighted here for several years.
Mountain Chickadees exhibit petite frames, featuring black-and-white heads, with a gray plumage dominating their bodies, darker on the back and lighter beneath.
Poecile gambeli
Length: 4.3-5.5 inches (11-14 cm)
Weight: 0.4 ounces (11 g)
Mountain Chickadees are year-round residents of mountainous regions in the western United States, refraining from migratory journeys. However, during winter, they may descend to lower elevations.
Evergreen forests, particularly those with pine and coniferous trees, serve as preferred habitats for Mountain Chickadees. Their diet consists of insects, spiders, nuts, and seeds, and they readily visit backyard feeders. These resourceful birds are known to store food for later consumption, amassing a reserve.
Credit: Richard E. Webster, XC619853. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/619853.
Mountain Chickadees typically establish their nests in old nesting holes originally excavated by woodpeckers and nuthatches. The female lines the cavity with fur and diligently covers her eggs when she departs. Incubation lasts approximately two weeks, with an additional three weeks until the young fledge from the nest.
To allure Mountain Chickadees to your yard, erect nesting boxes, and provide them with black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, nyjer, suet, and peanut butter, as they willingly visit a variety of feeders.
Fun fact: The incubation period of Mountain Chickadee eggs is approximately 50% longer than that of other Chickadee species, owing to the protective nature of their chosen nesting sites, combined with the female’s tendency to cover the eggs upon leaving.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Backyard
Observing the incessant flurry of Chickadees as they diligently gather sustenance is a true delight. If you desire to witness more of these endearing avian visitors, consider attracting them to your yard through the following measures:
1. Provide feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Utilize a variety of feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders.
3. Offer a water source, such as a birdbath, ideally with flowing water.
4. Cultivate berry-producing trees and shrubs that entice insects, serving as a natural food source.
5. Refrain from using pesticides or herbicides, as Chickadees rely on insects as part of their diet.
6. Create a welcoming shelter through the presence of trees and shrubs.
7. Install nest boxes with a small hole, measuring 1 1/8 inches in diameter, positioned 5-15 feet above ground.
8. Keep domestic cats indoors to ensure the safety of the birds.
9. Exercise patience, as it may take time for birds to discover your yard and feeders.
Chickadee Songs and Calls
Chickadees are renowned for their distinctive “chick a dee” call, which actually serves as a mild alarm or contact call, while their song is characterized by a melodious “fee bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
This call is produced by males.
The first note carries a higher pitch compared to the second note.
Males tend to distance themselves from other males while singing.
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
2. Faint Fee-bee
Both males and females produce this call.
Females utilize it to summon the male for feeding while she incubates the eggs.
This call facilitates communication between parents and offspring.
3. Chick-a-dee call
This call serves as a mild alarm signal.
It is employed for contact purposes within flocks.
It aids in coordinating movements within the flock.
Credit: GABRIEL LEITE, XC420822. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/420822.
4. Gargle
This call consists of a series of two to nine short notes.
It serves as a warning to other birds that may encroach upon their space in flocks or at feeding sites.
The gargle call signals a potential altercation, prompting the recipient to move away.
Credit: Todd Wilson, XC42956. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
Young Chickadees emit “bee” calls to elicit food from their parents.
Credit:
Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
This alarm call is employed in the presence of predators.
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.
Frequency of Chickadee Sightings in Saskatchewan during Summer and Winter
Checklists provide valuable insights into the common bird species encountered within a specific region. The following percentages represent the frequency of Chickadee sightings based on checklists submitted on ebird during summer and winter in Saskatchewan:
Chickadees in Saskatchewan during Summer:
Black-capped Chickadee: 17.3%
Boreal Chickadee: 0.8%
Chickadees in Saskatchewan during Winter:
Black-capped Chickadee: 49.6%
Boreal Chickadee: 1.8%
Mountain Chickadee: <0.1%