The next bird of West Virginia’s over 350 species is the Black-capped chickadee. These birds can be found in flocks coming in dramatically to feeders but not staying.
Identification
Male and females have oversized round heads and tiny bodies with a long, narrow tail and a short bill
Coloring
cap and bib are black, white cheeks, the back is a kind of light grey and the feathers on the wing are grey and white
To attract chickadees
They love suet, sunflower, and peanuts.
Black-capped chickadees are easy to please – tiny hanging feeders that swing in the wind or they will visit window feeders, any feeder will do.Nest boxes or feeders mixed with nest boxes will attract chickadees looking to settle down and nest.
Planting willow, alder, and birch trees will give them something to nest in
In the wild, you can find them in wooded areas with lots of rotted out trees or shrubs
Average Size
- Length: 4.7-5.9 in
- Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz
- Wingspan: 6.3-8.3 in
Other Facts
They hide food in order to come back to eat later
Black-Capped Chickadees don’t stay with their offspring but they will stay with their mates
They sleep in their own hollowed out/rotted out holes
These birds stick with their flocks and grab food in feeders to eat in other places
These chickadees are smaller than sparrows
The oldest known chickadee was over 11.8 years old
Leave a Reply