Ubiquitous, but never boring, the delightful little Black-capped Chickadee can be found anywhere in Alberta. This chickadee is less common in the Rockies where its close cousin the Mountain Chickadee lives, and in the northern part of the province where its other relative, the Boreal Chickadee is more at home.
This little icon of greeting cards and coffee mugs is found in mixed woods and shrubbery, and is also easily enticed to back yard feeders, especially in winter.
The tiny year round resident chickadee is an expert forager, which it must be to fuel its tiny body through the coldest winter day. Chickadees eat seeds, berries and insects wherever they find them. At feeders, sunflowers are a popular choice. There is endless debate about whether the small black oil seeds or the striped ones are more popular. They like both, but individuals may have their own preference. Sunflower seeds may be forsaken readily for choice chopped peanuts or other nutmeats. People are often surprised to discover that these little omnivores like suet, and are even more shocked to discover them in the company of ravens or raptors at roadkills.
Chickadees can excavate their own nest hole, woodpecker -fashion in rotten trees, and will also readily occupy any suitable cavity, including a properly sized nest box. The nest is lined with small wood chips and soft materials gathered form the woods, such as moss. About six speckled eggs are laid, one each day and when the clutch is complete the female incubates them for about 12 days, during which time her mate often feeds her. During the nestling phase, which lasts about 16 days, the male feeds the brood.
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Where to find Black-capped Chickadees in Alberta
Black-capped Chickadees can be found throughout the Weaselhead/Glenmore Park area in all seasons. Brent Johner
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While birds such as sparrows or siskins will sit at a feeder for minutes at a time eating seed after seed, Black-capped Chickadees prefer to snatch and run. After snatching a seed and flying to the nearest safe cover, they open the seed, eat its contents and then return to the bird feeder. Brent Johner
Interesting Facts about Black-capped Chickadees
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Black-capped Chickadee Stories from our Readers
Chickadees need to eat almost constantly in winter, and will exploit every avenue to access a meal. In parks like Weaselhead where they are have learned that people are really just walking vending machines, it's not only easy (and a lot of fun) to feed the little 'dees, but the savvy birds actively solicit passersbys.
As soon as you stretch out your hand a chickadee will land there. I've had up to three on my hand at once squabbling for dominance. Sometimes a dominant bird will sit there for a minute and may even call. Nora Bryan
KEN OAKES
for serving as the society's PRESIDENT this year