Saturday Sightings- Black-capped Chickadee

Happy Saturday Everyone!

This species of bird is a small, North American songbird that lives in deciduous forests and mixed forests, not migrating for winter months.  It is the state bird of Maine and Massachusetts, and the provincial bird of New Brunswick.  The black-capped chickadee is considered “cute” because of its oversized round head, tiny body and curiosity about everything, including people. 

They eat mainly insects, especially caterpillars, hopping along tree branches while they search for food, hanging upside down or hovering to catch food, while also catching it in the air.  During the winter, seeds and berries become more important and the black-capped chickadee commonly caches food, having a great memory for where their cache is kept.  They frequent bird feeders for seeds and will also accept seeds from a person’s hand at times, proving that they tolerate human approach well, though they are always moving, never staying somewhere for more than a week or two.  They will usually move miles south during fall and winter, and then come back north again in the spring. 

Fun Fact: These birds can reduce their body temperature by as much as 10-12 degrees C, from their normal temperature of about 42 degrees C, to conserve energy on cold winter nights.

Have a great week ahead!