Black-capped Chickadees are perky little birds who travel in flocks in winter and are frequent visitors to bird feeders. Chickadees have dark caps and bibs and white cheeks and people think they look a bit like little league baseball players. Chickadees live in woodland environments and may feed by hanging upside down to glean insects from tree leaves and bark. They will also eat seeds.

You can attract Chickadees by placing bird feeders off the ground and near trees, their preferred habitat. Fill bird feeders with black oil sunflower, their favorite food, or seed mixes that contain a good proportion of black oil sunflower, such as Stokes Select Gourmet Blend. Chickadees are also fond of suet cakes. 

It's fun to watch chickadees feed. They take a seed, hold it between their toes and crack it open. They may do this right on a feeder perch or fly to a nearby tree branch. Sometimes chickadees will carry off one or several seeds and cache (store) them separately under bark or dead leaves. Chickadees have excellent memories and can find stored seeds a month or more later.

In spring Chickadee flocks disperse and pairs of chickadees form a breeding territory of about 10 acres in which they will nest. Chickadees nest in cavities and can excavate their own nest hole. You can entice them to breed in your yard by putting up a bird house with a 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inch diameter opening. Try our Stokes Select variety of bird houses.

Enjoy chickadees year round!