Birds of Southern Ontario

The Black Capped Chickadee

An all time favorite for bird artists is the delightful Black Capped chickadee, they are often seen painted in winter scenes although they are year round residents in many parts of the US and Canada including right here in southern Ontario. The Black Capped chickadee is a frequent visitor to backyards and bird feeders and can be seen flitting from tree to tree and branch to branch as they do not stay in one place for very long.

They are one of the most commonest birds in North America but on the rare chance that someone has never seen one, they have big heads, a black "beard", long tail for their small size, and a whitish belly with a tinge of orange on the sides. Their wings are grayish in appearance with white along the edges.

This small woodland bird likes to hang out in small groups with other chickadees as well as other bird species. It is and active little bird, somewhat of an acrobat, it can sometimes be seen perched upside down on a tree branch pecking away at a seed or looking for insects in the bark of a tree, making it a fun bird to watch.

It's flight is short and choppy and they are curious and not afraid of getting close people, so don't be surprised if one whizzes past your shoulder. They are also known for taking seeds from peoples' hands, though I myself haven't had that experience but I hope to one of these days.

Black Capped chickadees are one of the easiest birds to attract to your yard, all you need is a bird feeder filled with black oil sunflowers and they will be flying back and forth from tree to feeder for more seeds. Chickadees stay only long enough at the birdfeeder to grab a seed and fly off into a tree, there they hold the seed against the tree branch and break open the shell with their beak by pecking away at it as their head bobs up and down. As with a lot of other birds that visit gardens, a yard with evergreen trees provides shelter thus attracting not only chickadees but a host of other birds as well which can make for an interesting day of bird watching in the backyard.

Did You Know?

Chickadees get their name from the calls they produce although to me it just sounds like chattering.
Black Capped chickadees can be found as far north as Alaska. Talk about not minding the cold!
Chickadees stash their food for later and remember where they hid it, they hide in tree bark, under leaves and any other hiding place they can find.
Their nests are tree cavities or holes they find, they either make the hole themselves or look for one already there. They are also happy to use nestboxes.
Chickadees are very social birds except when it comes to breeding season at which time the males can become very territorial.
The most recognizable feature of the Black Capped chickadee besides their seeming social nature is the black beard or "bib" as it's called on their chin.