The black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is a passerine songbird of the family Paridae. It lives in Canada, Alaska and the northern United States. This is a small, common bird which sings a simple song.
Appearance[change | change source]
The black-capped chickadee is about 12–15 cm (5–6 in) long and weighs 9-15 g (0.32-0.49 oz).
The male and female black-capped chickadees look the same. The black-capped chickadee has black and white on its head. The top of the head and throat are black, and the sides are white. It has a short, black beak.
The back of the body of the black-capped chickadee is gray. The front of the body is white and light brown. The bird has short wings and a short tail.
Song[change | change source]
The song of the black-capped chickadee is a clear whistle.
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Behavior[change | change source]
In the summer, black-capped chickadees eat many insects. In the winter, they eat seeds and berries. They will hide seeds in different places and return later to eat them. When two chickadees want to build a nest, they will use a hole in a tree.
References[change | change source]
- All about birds: black-capped chickadee, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.