Black-capped Ckickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

 
Photos by BarrytheBirder

The Black-capped Chickadee is common coast-to-coast in lower Canada and Upper U.S.A. (including Alaska).   They are common in deciduous and mixed forests, open woodlands, suburbs, and clearings.   They usually forage in small roving flocks in low branches of trees, thickets, and at backyard feeders (where they look for sunflower seeds and suet).

My Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds says Chickadees "...form the nucleus of mixed flocks of woodpeckers, nuthatches, creepers and kinglets that move through the winter woods".   

Audubon further states: "Occasionally they move south in very large numbers.   In spring chickadees disband  and move into the woods to nest.  They often feed upside down clinging to the underside of twigs and branches in their search for insect eggs and larvae.   They are easily tamed and they soon learn to feed from the hand."

The Blackcap's call is low, slow chick-a-dee-dee-dee and its typical song a clear, whistled fee-bee or fee-bee-ee.

They are small, very active and a favourite of feeder-watchers.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder