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

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

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