By Sarah Jones

The black-capped chickadee is one of six species of chickadee in Canada and occupies a wide range, spanning across the provinces of Newfoundland to British Columbia and north into the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Due to the variability of their habitats, the chickadees have developed a number of survival strategies and may also vary slightly in color and size. In northern climates, the chickadee must survive cold harsh winters. To respond to this demand they have the ability to lower their body temperatures, entering a controlled hypothermia, which gives them the ability to conserve energy. They also keep warm by lifting their thick feathers, trapping warm air close to their bodies. This creates a layer of insulation against the surrounding cold weather, much like the down-filled duvets many people use as bedding in the winter!

Chickadees are a small species weighing approximately 11 grams, and measuring approximately 12 to 15 centimetres. Their plumage is grey across the back with a black cap covering their eyes and extending across to the back of the head and a black bib on the throat. The cheeks are a bright white colour that extends forward to the short black bill. Their stomachs are white with a pale reddish brown or buff along the side, and their wings and tail are covered in black feathers with white contouring.

Habitat
From fall to winter, Black-capped Chickadees live in flocks of up to 12 individuals. This allows them to work as a team to guard a home territory of up to 20 hectares. Each flock is made up of pairs who mate successfully in the area the season before, and juveniles from surrounding areas who are in search of a mate. This immigration of new birds to a population ensures there is no inbreeding.

The flock will remain together from October to March and will immediately establish a “pecking order,” or hierarchy, in which each bird must live in accordance with their established rank. Top-ranking birds tend to be more aggressive, males tend to be more dominant than females and adults usually rank higher than juveniles. Establishing the highest possible rank in the flock is important, as the more dominant individuals enjoy first access to roosting spots, food and mates. The birds will generally pair according to rank, with the more aggressive females pairing with the more aggressive males.

Once territory and pecking order are established, the birds settle in nicely with their new flock mates, working as a team to defend their territory and survive the winter months. In northern habitats, chickadees roost in dense evergreen trees that provide shelter from the cold winter wind and snow. Any small holes will also be used as shelter, and roosting spots are often used repeatedly over the winter.  

Love Birds
Courtship takes place in February and March, when the birds flit from tree to tree, trying to impress their mates. Once a mate has been selected, the love birds begin looking for a nesting site. The female will always lead the pair as they travel so that her mate can protect her from other birds, and once a nesting site is selected he will guard the pair’s territory as well. Once breeding has begun, chickadees remain close to their nesting sites.

Once the eggs have been laid, the female chickadee will incubate them for 20- to 30-minute periods throughout the day. It is her responsibility to ensure her young stay warm enough inside their shells until they hatch. Although she will occasionally leave for short periods to look for food, her mate will also bring her snacks to hold her over.

It takes approximately two weeks for her eggs to hatch, and when they emerge from their shells chickadee babies are featherless. Until they have enough plumage, the female will keep her young warm, and both parents share the responsibility of cleaning the nest and feeding the young. The young must eat between six and 14 times an hour.

It takes slightly longer than two weeks for the young to be ready to leave the nest. At this time, the parents have depleted their energy reserves, at times to dangerous levels, caring for their young. While they are now old enough to fly, the young remain in the nest for an extra two weeks while they perfect their flying skills and hunting abilities.   

Chickadee Cuisine
Chickadees spend a large part of their day in search of food. Insects are a main staple, making up 80 to 90 per cent of the birds’ diet during the breeding season and 50 per cent of their diet in the winter months. Their favorite prey include insect eggs, larvae and pupae, weevils, lice, sawflies, spiders, ants and a variety of other insects. During the winter months, the birds search for and eat food with high fat content, such as nuts and seeds. This is important as it helps them maintain extra winter fat for emergency energy reserves. When food is abundant, the chickadee hides pieces of food all over its territory for times of decreased food availability. They can even remember where food has been stored for up to 28 days after hiding it!

Conservation
Recent studies have shown that black-capped chickadee populations are increasing. According to Christmas Bird Counts, their numbers increased 25 per cent between the years 2001 and 2002. The chickadee’s main predators include bird-hunting hawks and the Northern Shrike. In addition, snakes, weasels, mice, chipmunks and squirrels will often damage chickadee nests and steal eggs during breeding season. Because their diet consists primarily of insects, these birds are important for pest control. They control the populations of many of the insects that harm crops and gardens.

What can you do to help? First, allow native plants to flourish, either in formal garden beds or by leaving part of your garden a little wild, and use natural methods of pest and weed control. These are all critically important for the health of our ecosystem and the wildlife that depends on it. Second, get a bird feeder! This is especially important in attracting chickadees during winter months, when food is scarce. Third, keep domestic cats inside. Cats have become a problem for wildlife because they have entered urban and suburban areas in large numbers and hunt many species of small mammals and birds.