This comprehensive handbook will assist you in recognizing all the different varieties of Chickadees that can be observed in Tennessee through photo identifications and detailed descriptions, accompanied by captivating audio recordings of their melodious songs, intriguing facts, and much more.
Chickadees, those industrious and agile songbirds that flit about in search of insects, are frequent visitors to backyard feeders. Belonging to the avian family known as Poecile, these delightful creatures are represented by a mere seven distinct species, all of which inhabit the vast landscapes of North America.
Tennessee plays host to two particular types of chickadees, namely the Carolina Chickadees and the Black-capped Chickadees.
Unlike migratory birds, chickadees may descend to lower altitudes during the winter season. Studies have revealed that these resourceful birds employ various survival strategies during the cold months, such as storing food, seeking refuge in cavities, and entering a regulated state of nocturnal hypothermia to conserve energy.
Fueled by their elevated body temperatures, chickadees possess an insatiable appetite, requiring them to consume an amount of food equivalent to their own body weight each day!
Unfortunately, chickadees tend to have relatively short lifespans, typically spanning a mere two to three years. As adults, they may only survive for a single year, enduring just one breeding season. However, there have been records of chickadees living up to twelve years.
Distinguishing between male and female chickadees can prove challenging, as they exhibit identical appearances. However, it is worth noting that only the male individuals possess the ability to produce the resounding “Fee-bee” song.
Additionally, Black-capped Chickadees and Carolina Chickadees bear a striking resemblance to one another. Nevertheless, the Black-capped variety can be differentiated by the greater presence of white plumage on its wings and its distinct two-note song, contrasting with the Carolina Chickadee’s four-note melody.
Chickadees subsist on a diet comprising insects and seeds, often frequenting backyard feeders in search of nourishing seeds or delectable suet. Uncover the array of other backyard bird species commonly encountered in Tennessee and obtain a complimentary identification chart.
This comprehensive manual serves as a reliable tool to aid in the identification of Chickadee species found in Tennessee. It draws upon data sourced from birdwatchers on ebird and corroborates the information provided by avibase, ensuring its accuracy and authenticity.
Two Fascinating Chickadee Species Found in Tennessee:
1. Carolina Chickadee
The Carolina Chickadee is a prevalent species in Tennessee, inhabiting the region throughout the year. This species has been observed in 43% of summer checklists and 50% of winter checklists submitted by diligent birdwatchers within the state.
Characterized by their diminutive size, Carolina Chickadees sport prominent heads, adorned with black caps and throats, alongside white cheeks and bellies. Their soft gray plumage extends across their backs, wings, and tails.
Despite sharing a striking resemblance with Black-capped Chickadees, Carolina Chickadees occasionally interbreed with their counterparts, although their ranges do not significantly overlap. Notably, Black-capped Chickadees display a greater abundance of white plumage 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 are year-round residents of the eastern and southeastern regions of the United States.
These delightful birds can be found in forests, parks, and even backyard spaces. During the summer months, their diet primarily comprises insects and spiders, while plant matter constitutes approximately half of their food intake during winter.
Carolina Chickadee Song:
Attribution: Brian Hendrix, XC572217. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/572217.
Carolina Chickadees construct their nests within self-made cavities, those originally created by other species, or natural crevices. They line their nests with moss and subsequently incorporate softer materials, such as hair. The female typically lays up to ten eggs, which take approximately two weeks to hatch, followed by an additional two to three weeks for the fledglings to depart the nest.
To attract Carolina Chickadees to your backyard feeders, offer black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet feeders, or peanuts. These birds readily partake in various feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, and platform feeders. They also exhibit a preference for nesting within nest boxes or nest tubes.
2. Black-capped Chickadee
While not as common, Black-capped Chickadees can indeed be spotted in Tennessee throughout the year, particularly in the eastern regions of the state.
Distinguished by their adorable round heads and diminutive bodies, Black-capped Chickadees enthusiastically frequent backyard feeders, exploring every nook and cranny, including their human companions!
Featuring black caps, beaks, and throats, along with white cheeks, these birds possess gray plumage on their backs, wings, and tails. Their bellies bear a lighter hue. Much like their Carolina counterparts, they bear a striking resemblance to one another.
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 partake in migratory journeys and can be found across the northern half of the United States and Canada.
These delightful birds frequent forests, open woodlands, and parks. Their diet consists of seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and suet.
Black-capped Chickadee Call/Song:
Attribution: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
Black-capped Chickadees predominantly select old woodpecker nests as their nesting sites. Alternatively, they may create cavities in decaying branches. Both male and female individuals contribute to nest-building efforts, with the female lining the nest with moss and additional soft materials, such as fur.
Their clutches can be quite sizable, consisting of up to thirteen eggs, which require approximately two weeks to hatch. The young chicks typically leave the nest after an additional two-week period.
To entice Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard, provide suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. These friendly birds may even feed directly from your hand and are often among the first to discover new feeders. Nest boxes are also well-received, particularly when lined with wood shavings.
Fascinating Fact: The brains of Black-capped Chickadees possess remarkable plasticity. Each year, they eliminate old neurons, discarding unnecessary information, and replace them with new neurons and knowledge.
Inviting Chickadees to Your Backyard
Observing the ceaseless flurry of activity as Chickadees diligently procure sustenance is a joyous experience. If you desire to witness more of these endearing avian creatures in your yard, attracting them becomes paramount.
- Ensure your feeders are well-stocked with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
- Various feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, and platform feeders, are suitable for Chickadees.
- Create a water source, such as a birdbath, preferably with flowing water.
- Plant trees and shrubs that produce berries, which entice insects—the favored prey of Chickadees.
- Avoid using pesticides or herbicides, as Chickadees rely on insects for sustenance.
- Provide shelter through strategically positioned trees and shrubs.
- Offer nest boxes with small 1 1/8-inch entry holes, elevated 5-15 feet above ground.
- Keep cats indoors, ensuring the safety of both birds and felines.
- 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 serves as a mild alarm or contact call. Contrary to popular belief, their melodic song is actually a melodious “fee bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
Produced solely by males
The initial note exhibits a higher pitch compared to the second
Males tend to distance themselves from other males while singing
Attribution: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Available 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 eggs
Used for communication between parents and their offspring
3. Chick-a-dee call
Serves as a mild alarm call
Utilized for contact communication within flocks
Coordinates movements among flock members
Attribution: GABRIEL LEITE, XC420822. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/420822.
4. Gargle
Comprises a series of two to nine short notes
Issued when birds invade each other’s personal space in flocks or around feeders
Functions as a warning call to encourage the targeted bird to retreat
Attribution: Todd Wilson, XC42956. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
Young chickadees emit buzzing sounds to prompt their parents to provide nourishment
Attribution: Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
Serves as an alarm call in the presence of predators
Attribution: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.
Frequency of Chickadee Sightings in Tennessee during Summer and Winter
Checklists prove invaluable for gaining insights into the prevalent bird species within your state. These lists reveal the frequency of chickadee sightings based on checklists submitted by diligent birdwatchers on ebird, both during summer and winter in Tennessee.
Chickadees in Tennessee during Summer:
Carolina Chickadee: 43.7%
Black-capped Chickadee: 0.2%
Chickadees in Tennessee during Winter:
Carolina Chickadee: 50.0%
Black-capped Chickadee: <0.1%