Wisconsin’s Chickadee Variety Guide presents an opportunity for you to discover and identify the diverse array of Chickadee species that inhabit the region. Equipped with photo identifications, captivating descriptions, melodic audio recordings of their songs, and intriguing facts, this guide offers much more than mere information.
Chickadees, the industrious and melodious songbirds, flit about with ceaseless energy, searching for insects. These delightful creatures readily flock to backyard feeders, bringing joy to any observer. Belonging to the Poecile family, Chickadees represent a small group of seven species, all of which exclusively reside in North America.
Wisconsin, home to a bountiful avian population, offers sightings of two distinct Chickadee species. Among them, the Black-capped Chickadees are commonly found, while the Boreal Chickadees remain an elusive rarity.
Unlike migratory birds, Chickadees may journey to lower altitudes during winter in their quest to endure the frigid months. To combat the harsh conditions, these avian marvels engage in strategic survival tactics, such as caching food, taking shelter in cavities, and embracing regulated nocturnal hypothermia to conserve precious energy.
Driven by their elevated body temperature, Chickadees exhibit an insatiable appetite, devouring food equivalent to their own weight on a daily basis!
Unfortunately, Chickadees have relatively short lifespans, typically spanning a mere two to three years. Among them, only a fraction reach adulthood and experience a solitary breeding season. However, exceptional cases have documented Chickadees surpassing a decade of life, defying expectations.
Distinguishing male and female Chickadees can prove challenging, as they possess identical appearances. However, it is the males alone who belt out the resonant ‘Fee-bee’ song, creating a delightful auditory spectacle.
Chickadees feast on a diet consisting of insects and seeds, frequently seeking sustenance from backyard feeders teeming with seeds or suet. Discovering other avian visitors regularly frequenting Wisconsin and obtaining a complimentary identification chart can further enrich your backyard birding experience.
Enriched with data gathered from dedicated bird watchers on ebird, this comprehensive guide assists in identifying the various Chickadee species found in Wisconsin. Drawing insights from avibase, it provides authentic information on optimal times for spotting these enchanting birds.
The Charming Chickadees of Wisconsin:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
The Black-capped Chickadee, a prevalent resident of Wisconsin throughout the year, constitutes one of the two species found in the region. Bird watchers’ submitted checklists indicate a 42% presence in summer and 55% during winter.
Sporting endearing round heads and diminutive bodies, Black-capped Chickadees exhibit a distinct appearance. Their caps, beaks, and throats are adorned in black, contrasting with their white cheeks, while their backs, wings, and tails don shades of gray. Lighter hues adorn their bellies. Close resemblance exists between them and Carolina Chickadees.
Scientific Name: 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 undertake no migrations and occupy the northern territories of the United States and Canada.
These delightful creatures inhabit forests, open woodlands, and parks, where they relish seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and suet.
Black-capped Chickadee Call/Song:
Acknowledgment: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
Black-capped Chickadees primarily nest within abandoned woodpecker nests, though they may also excavate cavities in decaying branches. Both male and female Chickadees engage in nest construction, with the female layering moss and subsequently adding softer materials like fur.
Their sizable clutches may contain up to thirteen eggs, requiring around two weeks for hatching and a further fortnight for the younglings to venture beyond the nest.
To allure Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard, provide suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. Remarkably, these friendly birds may even feed directly from your hand, often among the first to explore novel feeders. Nest boxes filled with wood shavings also serve as appealing accommodations.
Fun Fact: Black-capped Chickadees possess remarkable brains that shed old information annually, replacing it with new neurons and knowledge.
2. Boreal Chickadee
The Boreal Chickadee, classified as a rare or accidental species in Wisconsin, occasionally graces the northern regions of the state throughout the year.
Boreal Chickadees are diminutive songbirds, cloaked in grayish-brown hues, donning dark brown caps, small black bibs, cinnamon-colored flanks, and white undersides and cheeks.
Scientific Name: Poecile hudsonicus
Length: 4.9-5.5 in (12.5-14 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (7-12.4 g)
Boreal Chickadees primarily reside in Canada and Alaska but may venture into the northern states of the United States.
These fascinating creatures predominantly inhabit coniferous forests, often near water sources. However, they may also be found in deciduous or mixed forests. Boreal Chickadees extract sustenance from seeds and insects nestled within the upper reaches of the forest canopy. They eagerly visit feeders as well.
Credit: Ken Hall, XC511286. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/511286.
Nests of Boreal Chickadees are typically found in decaying trees, with the female responsible for crafting the cavity. The interior is lined with moss, bark, and subsequently padded with softer materials like hair and feathers. Their clutches encompass up to nine eggs, which hatch after slightly over two weeks.
To attract Boreal Chickadees to your backyard, offer black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, peanuts, and mealworms through various feeder types. Erecting a nesting box heightens the chances of attracting a breeding pair.
Fun Fact: Boreal Chickadees meticulously store seeds and insects, amassing winter provisions for the demanding months ahead.
Luring Chickadees to Your Backyard
The animated movements and tireless quest for sustenance exhibited by Chickadees render them delightful subjects for observation. To attract these charming avian companions to your yard, consider the following suggestions:
1. Provide a selection of feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Chickadees willingly visit various feeder types, including tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders.
3. Ensure a water source, preferably a birdbath with a gentle flow of water, to quench their thirst.
4. Cultivate berry-producing trees and shrubs to attract insects, a vital component of their diet.
5. Refrain from using pesticides or herbicides, as Chickadees rely on insects as a food source.
6. Foster a sheltered environment by planting trees and shrubs within your yard.
7. Offer nesting boxes with small entrance holes measuring 1 1/8 inches, raised between 5 and 15 feet above ground.
8. Keep domestic cats indoors, ensuring the safety of both birds and feline friends.
9. Exercise patience, as it may take time for the birds to discover your yard and feeders.
Chickadee Songs and Calls
Chickadees are renowned for their signature “chick-a-dee” call, although it serves as a mild alarm or contact call, while their actual song features a melodious “fee bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
This call is produced exclusively by males.
The first note exhibits a higher pitch compared to the second.
Males tend to sing away from one another.
Credit: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
2. Faint Fee-bee
Both males and females emit this call.
Females employ it to summon the male for feeding while she incubates.
Used for communication between parents and their young.
3. Chick-a-dee call
Serves as a mild alarm call.
Used for contact within flocks.
Coordinates movements among flock members.
Credit: GABRIEL LEITE, XC420822. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/420822.
4. Gargle
Comprises a series of two to nine short notes.
Indicates discomfort when birds come too close, either in flocks or at feeding locations.
Serves as a warning before potential conflict, urging the offending bird to move away.
Credit: Todd Wilson, XC42956. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
Young chickadees emit bee-like calls to elicit feeding responses from their parents.
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
Serves as an alarm call in the presence of predators.
Credit: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.
Frequency of Chickadee Sightings in Wisconsin During Summer and Winter
Checklists provide valuable insights into the avian species frequently observed within your state. Compiled from ebird submissions, these records shed light on the prevalence of Chickadee sightings in Wisconsin during summer and winter.
Chickadees in Wisconsin during Summer:
– Black-capped Chickadee: 42.6%
– Boreal Chickadee: <0.1%
Chickadees in Wisconsin during Winter:
– Black-capped Chickadee: 55.3%
– Boreal Chickadee: 0.1%