My Little Chickadee   
 
North American Chickadees 

Although most people in North America are familiar with either the Carolina or Black-capped Chickadee, there are actually seven species of chickadees! Along with the previously mentioned two, there are Mountain Chickadees, Mexican Chickadees, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Boreal Chickadees, and Gray-headed Chickadees from Alaska to the far southern border of the United States. Members of the Paridae family, discover where each type of chickadee resides, how to identify them as well as a bit about their lives.

Black-capped Chickadees, Poecile atricapilla, reside in the northern half of U.S as well as most of Canada and Alaska, not including the tundra area. They are 5.5 inches in length with a wingspan of about 7.5 - 8.5 inches. They weigh a mere 0.4 ounce. They live in pairs, forming small groups after breeding season. These birds can often be seen feeding with many other birds. They eat insects and insect eggs, seeds and some berries. Full of energy this small bird has a familiar black cap and bib along with a short black bill, white cheeks and whitish underparts. The rest of their bodies are mainly gray with dark gray legs and feet along with a notched tail and wings edged in white. Very similar to Carolina Chickadees but are a bit larger, more white on the wings, and a bit lower song. In a nest lined with moss, grass, feathers and found materials, they will lay 5-10 eggs that are incubated 11-13 days by both of the parents taking turns. Both parents feed the young birds who stay in the nest 14 - 18 days before fledging.
Boreal Chickadees, Poecile hudsonica, reside in the colder portion of North America, mainly in Canada. They are 5.5 inches in length with a wingspan of about 8 inches. They weigh a mere 0.3 ounce. They live in pairs or medium groups when breeding season is over. They eat many types of insects as well as conifer seed. Full of energy this small bird has a brown cap, black bib, black bill, whitish gray areas of the cheeks nearest the front, gray sides of neck and back of face, brown upperparts, gray wings, gray tail, brown sides and flanks, whitish underparts and dark gray legs and feet . In a nest lined with fur, bark, moss, grass, and feathers, they will lay 4-9 eggs that are incubated 11-16 days by the female. Both parents feed the young birds who stay in the nest 18 days before fledging.

Carolina Chickadees, Poecile carolinensis, reside in the southeastern portion of the U.S. They are 4.75 inches in length with a wingspan of about 7.5 inches. They weigh a mere 0.4 ounce. They live in pairs or small groups and can often be seen feeding with titmice, warblers, Downy Woodpeckers, nuthatches as well as other birds. They eat many types of insects as well as seed and berries. Full of energy this small bird has a familiar black cap and bib along with a short black bill and white cheeks. Their underparts are a light gray-buff color. The rest of their bodies are mainly gray with dark gray legs and feet along with a notched tail and wings edged in white. In a nest lined with moss, grass, feathers and found materials, they will lay 5-8 eggs that are incubated 11-12 days by both of the parents taking turns. Both parents feed the young birds who stay in the nest 13 - 17 days before fledging.

Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Poecile rufescens, reside in the conifer forests in the Pacific coast of Canada and the U.S. They are 4.75 inches in length with a wingspan of about 5.25 inches. They weigh a mere 0.3 ounce. They live in groups after the breeding season. They eat many types of insects as well as conifer seed and fruit. Full of energy this small bird has a dark brown cap and black bib along with a short black bill and white cheeks. Their underparts are a light gray color. They have a chestnut colored back and rump area, gray wings edged with white, light chestnut and gray sides and flanks, dark gray legs and feet. In a nest lined with fur, moss, grass, and feathers, they will lay 5-9 eggs that are incubated 11-14 days by the female. Both parents feed the young birds who stay in the nest 14 - 18 days before fledging.

Gray-headed Chickadees, Poecile cinta, reside in the far northern part of Canada and the U.S. as well as Siberia. They are 5.5 inches in length with a wingspan of about 8 inches. They weigh a mere 0.4 ounce. They live in pairs or small groups. They eat many types of insects as well as conifer seed and berries and food scraps from people. Full of energy this small bird has a a gray cap, black bib, short black bill, white cheeks, buffy gray underparts, grayish brown back, gray wings edged in white, long gray tail and dark gray legs and feet. In a nest lined with moss, grass, feathers and wood chips, they will lay 7 - 9 eggs that are incubated 14 - 18 days by the female. Both parents feed the young birds who stay in the nest 19 days before fledging.

Mexican Chickadees, Poecile sclateri, reside in Mexico as well as the very southern area of Arizona and New Mexico in the U.S. They are 5 inches in length with a wingspan of about 7.25 inches. They weigh a mere 0.4 ounce. They live in pairs or small groups and can often be seen feeding with many other birds. They eat seeds, spiders and spider eggs, and other insects.This small bird has a black cap and bib that extends down onto his upper breast. A short black bill, white cheeks, pale gray underparts, with the rest of their bodies a darker gray with dark gray legs and feet. In a nest lined with fur, moss, grass, and feathers, laying 5 - 8 eggs that are incubated by the female. It is believed that both parents feed the young birds who stay in the nest 18-21 days before fledging.

Mountain Chickadees, Poecile gambeli, reside in the mountainous portion of the western U.S, from western Texas west to California and up to the Canadian Yukon. They are 5 inches in length with a wingspan of about 7.25 inches. They weigh a mere 0.4 ounce. They live in pairs, forming small groups after breeding season. They eat many types of insects as well as seed. They have the familiar black cap and bib with a identifying white eyebrow. They have whitish cheeks and lores, pale gray underparts, sides and flanks with gray upperparts, and dark gray legs and feet. In a nest lined with fur, moss, grass, and feathers, they will lay 5-12 eggs that are incubated 11-12 days by the female. Both parents feed the young birds who stay in the nest 21 days before fledging.

So no matter where in  North America you live, grab a pair of binoculars and find a chickadee to admire.

Happy Bird Sightings!