blackcapped chickadee (Poecile atricapilla)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 4.5 inches

• Short bill

• Black crown and throat

• White face

• Pale gray upperparts

• White edges to wing coverts

• Grayish-white underparts

• Rusty flanks

• Sexes similar

• Often found in small flocks

Similar species:

The black-capped chickadee is very similar to the Carolina chickadee
and where their ranges overlap they can be difficult to separate. In fact,
they have trouble telling themselves apart and hybrids occur. The most
obvious difference between them is their songs. Black-capped sings a two
note song while Carolina sings a four note song. Hybrids sing a three note
song. Outsided of the breeding season, when chickadees don't sing much,
the black-capped is slightly larger, has more white edging in the wing and
has slower, lower-pitched calls. Boreal and chestnut-backed chickadees
have more brown in their plumages than the black-capped.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Permanent resident
Breeding Habitat: Woodland
Nest Location: Mid-story/canopy nesting
Nest Type: Cavity
Clutch Size: 5-10
Length of Incubation: 11-13 days
Days to Fledge: 14-18
Number of Broods: 1?
Diet: Mostly insects; lesser quantities of seeds and fruit

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May Acc
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November Acc

      Winter: December, January, February Acc

 

 

Back to Inventory of Bird Families and Species