Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus

Audubon Illustration

John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.

Range & Recent Observations

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About the Black-capped Chickadee

The black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is a small, nonmigratory, North American passerine bird that lives in deciduous and mixed forests. It is a member of the Paridae family, also known as tits. It has a distinct black cap on its head, a black bib underneath, and white cheeks. It has a white belly, buff sides, and grey wings, back, and tail. The bird is well known for its vocalizations, including its fee-bee song and its chick-a-dee-dee-dee call, from which it derives its name. The black-capped chickadee is widely distributed throughout North America, ranging from the northern United States to southern Canada and all the way up to Alaska and Yukon. It feeds primarily on insects and seeds, and is known for its ability to cache food for use during the winter.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name: Poecile atricapillus
Family: Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
Order: Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the tits, chickadees, and titmice family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

Know when the Black-capped Chickadee turns up near you

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