BE AWARE THAT HABITAT TYPE MORE THAN ANY OTHER FACTOR, WILL IN MOST CASES, DICTATE THE SPECIES OF BIRD THAT VISIT YOUR PROPERTY.
How to Attract Black-capped Chickadee
This recognizable bird is often a favorite of birdwatchers due to its cuteness and boldness (it will eat right out of your hand). The Black-Capped Chickadee is a small grayish-white bird, with a black cap and bib set on white cheeks. In winter the Black-capped Chickadee happens to be one of the easiest birds to attract to your yard. The key in winter is to provide black-oil sunflower seed for food and shrubs or evergreens for shelter. During breeding season (spring and summer) their diet shifts to insects but a pair of Black-capped Chickadee may use a nesting box if provided (note: adding saw dust to the bottom of the box may encourage use). Black-capped Chickadee will also frequent birdbaths, which is a great way to observe these energetic birds. Many birds flock with Black-capped Chickadee because it excels at spotting potential food/water sources and predators. For this reason, familiarizing yourself with the Black-capped Chickadee call (which is very easy to learn) can be invaluable not only in spotting the Chickadee itself but also in finding rarer birds like Warblers, Woodpeckers, and Vireos - which often flock with them.
Top Ways to Attract Black-capped Chickadee
Trees & Shrubs that Attract Black-capped Chickadee
- Alder (Nesting)
- American Mountain Ash (Fruit)
- Birch (Seeds, Nesting)
- Dead Trees (Nesting)
- Eastern Hemlock (Seeds)
- Eastern White Pine (Seeds, Nesting)
- Elm (Seeds)
- Hickory (Nut)
- Northern Bayberry (Fruit)
- Sumac (Fruit)
- Tulip-Poplar (Seeds)
Flowers & Vines that Attract Black-capped Chickadee
- Aster (Seeds)
- Blue Wild Indigo (Seeds)
- Black-Eyed Susan (Seeds)
- Blazing Star (Seeds)
- Goldenrod (Seeds)
- Ironweed (Seeds)
- Purple Coneflower (Seeds)
- Sunflower (Seeds)
Attracting Black-capped Chickadee with a Bird Feeder
Feeder Type:
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Black-capped Chickadee Information
Black-capped Chickadee Identification:
- Small-sized bird
- Black cap and bib set on white cheeks, grayish upperparts, whitish underparts
Black-capped Chickadee Habitat:
- Mature Deciduous Forests
- Open Woodland
- Backyards with Trees
Black-capped Chickadee Eating Habits:
- Spring/Summer/Fall: mostly insects and spiders, some seed
- Winter: mostly seed (strongly favor sunflower), some berries
Black-capped Chickadee Nesting:
- Cavity-Nester
- Favor dead or decomposing trees; especially Birch and Alder
- Will use Nesting Box