In Wyoming, this comprehensive handbook will assist you in distinguishing all the various kinds of Chickadees that can be sighted. It encompasses photo identifications, detailed descriptions, captivating facts, audio recordings of their melodious songs, and even more fascinating information.
Chickadees, those active and melodious songbirds, dart around in search of insects and eagerly visit backyard feeders. They belong to the avian family called Poecile and exclusively inhabit North America, with a mere seven species of Chickadees existing.
Wyoming is home to two distinct types of Chickadees, namely the Black-capped Chickadees and the Mountain Chickadees.
Although Chickadees do not undertake long migrations, they might relocate to lower elevations during the winter season. To survive the cold months, studies reveal that these remarkable creatures store food, seek shelter in cavities, and enter a regulated nocturnal hypothermic state to conserve energy.
Due to their elevated body temperature and constant hunger, Chickadees possess an insatiable appetite and consume an amount of food equivalent to their body weight every single day!
Typically, the lifespan of a Chickadee is rather brief, typically lasting only two to three years. As adults, they may live for merely one year and experience only a single breeding season. Nevertheless, there have been rare instances of Chickadees living up to twelve years.
Distinguishing between male and female Chickadees can prove challenging since they exhibit a similar appearance. However, it is worth noting that only the males sing the louder and distinct ‘Fee-bee’ song.
Chickadees primarily subsist on insects and seeds, and they frequently visit backyard feeders in search of seeds or suet. Discover additional types of backyard birds that frequently grace Wyoming and obtain a complimentary identification chart.
To help you identify the Chickadee species found in Wyoming, this guide relies on avibase and incorporates data collected by avid birdwatchers on ebird, ensuring accurate and reliable information concerning the time when these birds can be observed.
Two Distinct Chickadee Varieties in Wyoming:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadees reside in Wyoming throughout the year, although they are more commonly observed during winter, from December to mid-March. These delightful creatures are documented in 11% of summer checklists and 24% of winter checklists submitted by vigilant birdwatchers in the state.
Characterized by their endearing round heads and petite bodies, Black-capped Chickadees exude a charm that captivates all. They joyfully feed from backyard feeders and thoroughly investigate their surroundings, including curious interactions with humans.
Featuring black caps, beaks, and throats, along with white cheeks, these Chickadees boast gray plumage on their back, wings, and tail. Their bellies, on the other hand, bear a lighter shade. Visually, they bear striking resemblance to 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 do not partake in migratory journeys and can be observed in the northern regions of the United States and Canada.
You can encounter Black-capped Chickadees in forests, open woodlands, and parks. Their diet consists of 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 build their nests within old woodpecker nests or create their own cavities within decaying branches. Both males and females actively contribute to constructing the nest, with the female lining it using moss and other soft materials, such as fur.
These Chickadees can lay a relatively large clutch of up to thirteen eggs, which incubate for approximately two weeks before hatching. Subsequently, the young remain in the nest for an additional two weeks until they are prepared to venture into the world.
To entice Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard, offer them suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. They may even feed directly from your hand and are often among the first birds to discover newly placed feeders. Additionally, they exhibit a fondness for nest boxes, particularly if they contain wood shavings.
Fascinating Fact: Black-capped Chickadees possess astonishing brains that annually discard old neurons, allowing them to shed unnecessary information and replace it with new neurons and knowledge.
2. Mountain Chickadee
Mountain Chickadees remain in Wyoming throughout the year without migrating. They are observed in 10% of summer checklists and 14% of winter checklists compiled by avid birdwatchers in the state.
These diminutive birds flaunt black-and-white heads, with their bodies covered in shades of gray, darker on the back and lighter underneath.
Scientific Name: Poecile gambeli
Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
Weight: 0.4 oz (11 g)
Mountain Chickadees inhabit the mountainous regions of the western United States year-round, refraining from long-distance migrations. However, during winter, they may descend to lower altitudes.
You can spot Mountain Chickadees primarily in evergreen forests, particularly those abundant in pine and coniferous trees. Their diet comprises insects, spiders, nuts, seeds, and they frequently pay visits to backyard feeders. These Chickadees have a tendency to store food for later use, creating a well-stocked reserve.
Acknowledgment: Richard E. Webster, XC619853. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/619853.
Mountain Chickadees typically establish their nests within abandoned holes originally occupied by woodpeckers and nuthatches. The female lines the cavity with fur and diligently covers her eggs whenever she leaves the nest. Their clutch size can reach up to nine eggs, with an incubation period of around two weeks, followed by an additional three weeks for the young ones to fledge.
To attract Mountain Chickadees to your yard, consider installing nest boxes. These delightful birds will readily visit various feeder types, especially when supplied with black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, nyjer, suet, and peanut butter.
Fascinating Fact: Mountain Chickadees’ eggs require an incubation period 50% longer than those of other Chickadee species. This longer incubation is likely due to the protective nature of the abandoned woodpecker nests and the female’s practice of covering the eggs when she leaves.
Encouraging Chickadees to Visit Your Backyard
Witnessing Chickadees’ incessant busyness as they diligently secure their daily sustenance is a delightful experience. If you desire more encounters with these charming avian creatures, consider attracting them to your yard by following these suggestions:
1. Offer a variety of food, such as black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, or peanuts.
2. Ensure your feeders cater to different types, including tube feeders, suet cages, or platform feeders.
3. Provide a water source, such as a birdbath, preferably with flowing water.
4. Cultivate berry-producing trees and shrubs that allure insects, serving as an additional food source.
5. Refrain from using pesticides or herbicides, as Chickadees rely on insects as part of their diet.
6. Create a sheltered environment with trees and shrubs, providing safe resting places.
7. Install nest boxes with a small entrance hole measuring approximately 1 1/8 inches, positioned 5 to 15 feet above the ground.
8. Keep cats indoors to avoid endangering the birds.
9. Exercise patience, as it may take time for the birds to discover your yard and feeders.
Chickadee Songs and Calls
Chickadees have gained renown for their signature “chick-a-dee” call, which serves as a mild alarm or contact call. Surprisingly, their actual song produces a distinctive “fee-bee” sound.
Chickadee Sounds:
1. Fee-bee
– Sung by male Chickadees
– The first note possesses a higher pitch compared to the second
– Males tend to move away from one another while singing
Acknowledgment: Matt Wistrand, XC554222. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/554222.
2. Faint Fee-bee
– Emitted by both males and females
– Females utilize this call to summon the male for feeding while she is incubating
– Used for communication between parents and their offspring
3. Chick-a-dee call
– Serves as a mild alarm call
– Contact call within flocks
– Assists in coordinating movements within flocks
Acknowledgment: GABRIEL LEITE, XC420822. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/420822.
4. Gargle
– Comprises a series of two to nine short notes
– Used when birds come into close proximity within flocks or at feeders
– Functions as a warning call before a Chickadee might engage in an altercation to establish distance
Acknowledgment: Todd Wilson, XC42956. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/42956.
5. Begging Call
– Young Chickadees emit bee-like calls to prompt their parents to feed them
Acknowledgment: Tayler Brooks, XC36609. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/36609.
6. High Seet Call
– Serves as an alarm call in the presence of predators
Acknowledgment: Tayler Brooks, XC35305. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/35305.
Frequency of Chickadee Sightings in Wyoming During Summer and Winter
Consulting checklists provides valuable insights into the most commonly observed bird species in a given state. These records reveal the prevalence of Chickadee sightings during summer and winter in Wyoming based on data gathered from ebird.
Chickadees in Wyoming during Summer:
– Black-capped Chickadee: 11.4%
– Mountain Chickadee: 10.7%
Chickadees in Wyoming during Winter:
– Black-capped Chickadee: 24.1%
– Mountain Chickadee: 14.5%