Chickadees are some of the most common and recognizable backyard birds in North America. Not only are they easy to find, but they’re also easy to love. Here are five reasons that I love Chickadees, and you should too!
They’re Vocal
Chickadees are definitely recognizable when it comes to what they look like, but they also make some of the most familiar vocalizations. Chickadees are chatty little birds and they make many different noises. However, the one they are most well known for is their namesake chickadee call that you will often hear around forests and in backyards. Another familiar vocalization is their “cheeseburger” song that in my experience they tend to use on warmer days in winter and as spring draws nearer. For that reason I call it the chickadee spring time song. These cheerful little sounds the chickadees make are extremely endearing and also nostalgic as I can remember hearing the same sounds when I was a kid.
They’re Friendly
From personal experience I can tell you that different bird species have different levels of curiosity when it comes to humans. Some birds won’t let you get anywhere near them while others are more tolerant of a human presence. This can of course be variable based on the individual of the species but overall Chickadees are on the inquisitive side and like to come investigate people. This is especially true when that person is the one that usually fills the bird feeder. They can even get comfortable enough around people to be fed by hand. Now I’m not saying you should try to train chickadees to take food from you. It can be bad for them to get used to interacting with people, but it is something that can be done which makes these little guys that much more lovable.
They’re Peaceful
If you’ve ever tried to band a Black-capped Chickadee then you would know that they can be a little vicious, especially since the trend to go right for the cuticle. BUT while they can have a bit of a fierce side, chickadees are by and large very peaceful when it comes to other birds. They are a great bird to have around yards and feeders since they usually don’t bully other birds or hog food sources since they prefer to take a seed and be on their way. Additionally they tend to travel in mixed flocks with other small birds like titmice and even warblers, and that proves it to the haters out there, chickadees are peaceful.
They’re Always Around
You know that one friend who’s always there for you? In the bird world, that friend is the chickadee. I mean this in multiple ways. First, Most chickadees don’t do much in terms of migratory movements and tend to stay in the same area year-round. That means you can hang out with your backyard chickadees during any and every major holiday. Another way that Chickadees are always there for you is the fact that some species of chickadee lives in just about every corner of the United States. From the Black-capped Chickadee of the northeast, to the chestnut backed chickadee of the pacific northwest, it’s likely that some variety of this familiar bird will be there.
They’re Small but Hardy
Many small bird species migrate south during the winter, but Chickadees reside in cold climates year round. One would think that such a small bird would struggle to survive, chickadees however have some remarkable adaptations to deal with the cold. First, they molt into a thicker coat of feathers and actually form a layer of fat for the winter. Additionally, since chickadees need to eat continuously in winter, they hide thousands of food items and remarkably, their brain even changes to allow them to better remember exactly where they put those food items. There are even more adaptations they have such as having a naturally high body temperature that they can altar by going into state called torpor that puts them into what is essentially a hibernation during particularly cold days. Overall, the way these small birds handle tough temperatures is astounding.
Chickadees are among the first birds that many people see around their homes and in their yards, and even though they’re common, they’re extremely loveable. If you liked this video, take a look at another one of our videos about birds and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.