Name: Black-Capped Chickadee

Description: A frequent visitor to backyard feeders, the Black-Capped Chickadee is one of the most beloved birds in North America. It breeds across the southern two-thirds of Canada and northern two-thirds of the United States, farther south in mountains. Some Black-Capped Chickadees head farther south in winter.

Other Names: Black-Capped Tit

Color: Adult males and females have a black cap and bib with white sides to the face. Their under parts are white with rusty brown on the flanks and their back is gray. They have a short, dark bill, short wings and a long tail.

Sound: The Black-Capped Chickadee makes two or three notes whistled, with the first higher in pitch and the sound "chick-a-dee-dee."

Preferred Environment: The Black-Capped Chickadee prefers deciduous and mixed deciduous and coniferous woodlands, open woods and parks, willow thickets and cottonwood groves. It also favors old fields, suburban areas and forest edges.

Nesting Habits: The Black-Capped Chickadee uses coarse materials such as moss for its nest, lining it with softer materials like fur. They nest in holes, typically in dead trees or rotten branches and will use nest boxes.

Food Preference: Black-Capped Chickadees eat safflower, sunflower, niger (thistle) and suet.