100 More species #69: Black-capped chickadee

[urbpan]

Black capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus

As a proud Bay-stater, I'm always happy when I see a black-capped chickadee. Massachusetts shares its state bird with Maine (which used to be part of Massachusetts, so it's all good). This is one of two species in the family Paridae found in New England, the other being the tufted titmouse. Many members of the "tit family," as it is rightly called, are relatively unafraid of humans, and wild birds can easily be habituated to hand-feeding. "Chickadee" is an onomatopoeia of the bird's call. Other parts of this birds vocal repertoire are understood throughout the feeder bird community--a multi-species complex of avian creatures that rely on the same food sources and more or less communicate with one another about predatory threats.
This individual complained that there were humans and dogs much too close to the large brick of delicious fat.


Chickadees are known for hanging upside-down to feed where larger birds are unable.

The black-capped chickadee was 365 urban species #007.

Comments

[hai-kah-uhk.livejournal.com]

We saw one in China, being kept as an exotic pet in a little cage outside someone's hutong home.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Very exotic!

[bosoxmom.livejournal.com]

When we moved out West many years ago, from the Boston area(Medford), one of the things that cheered me up so much was finding these little acrobats in the yard...I love em and have made sure they are all well fed!!!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

They do cheer up a yard, don't they?

[morgi.livejournal.com]

We live right where the ranges of the black-capped and Carolina chickadees meet; I hear them in the neighbours' trees all the time, but almost never ever see them. They sound different here than they do in Maine.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

That would be a fun challenge. I like how the same species sounds different across its range.

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

Lovely! I was going to ask you was a relative of the tits. It looks a little like some of the many varieties we have here, and most of them do that upside down feedings as well. As well as giving the presenters on Autumnwatch and excuse (as if they needed any) to make dumb jokes.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

"Titmouse" causes enough giggles over here, I can't imagine what would happen if we had birds called "tits." Great tits, no less.

When I saw great tits over there, (snicker) it was at Hampstead Heath, and they were clearly acclimatized to hand-feeding. Green chickadees! I thought to myself with delight.