A Year in the Life of a Chickadee: Creature Feature
Chickadees, these petite grey and cream-colored aerial puffballs crowned with black caps, emit their signature "chick-a-dee-dee" call while fluttering about, or serenade with the melodic "sweetie" song during spring. Countless times, these audacious birds have snatched seeds from the feeder before I've even fully rehung it, their spirited antics fueling my amusement and inspiring this article. Let's delve into a year in the life of the black-capped chickadee.
Winter: In this season, black-capped chickadees assemble into flocks of six to twelve individuals. Despite not yet mating until spring, these birds have already paired up within the flock. These pairings often culminate in mating partnerships in the coming spring, with even this year's fledglings finding their mates. Within the flock, mates socialize more frequently with each other than with the rest of the group, adhering to a hierarchical structure influenced by factors such as gender, age, and size. The hierarchy, linear in nature, places males above females, older birds above younger ones, and larger individuals in the upper echelons. Entry time into the flock also dictates rank, with earlier arrivals occupying higher positions. Such positions affect feeding and mating opportunities. The highest-ranking male pairs with the highest-ranking female, followed by others down the line. The presence of "floaters," unpaired birds, is not uncommon within the flock, and they often move between flocks, occupying the lowest rank.
Certain chickadee flocks intermingle with other bird species, including tufted titmice, nut-hatches, kinglets, and woodpeckers. These mixed groups contribute to survival, providing increased vigilance against threats. The accompanying species heed the chickadees' "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" alarm calls, deciphering the intensity of danger by the number of "dees.”
Spring: Starting as early as January, pairs scout prime nesting spots. Spring ushers in territorial displays, as pairs engage in acts of assertion. These displays often involve displacing rival pairs or claiming perches of other birds. While mostly the male's domain, females might participate. Not all pairs will secure nesting territories, as competition for resources can be fierce. Higher-ranking pairs tend to oust their lower-ranking counterparts. Pairs failing to claim territories separate, becoming "summer floaters," roaming between existing territories. In cases where one half of a pair dies, a same-gender floater might assume the vacant role. Nest-building begins once territories are established. Despite being paired, chickadees continually vie for social ascent. Females occasionally mate with higher-ranking males while leaving the caregiving to their original partner. The female constructs the nest in a cavity, using materials like pine needles and moss. After laying 5-10 eggs, one per day, incubation commences the day before the last egg is laid. Incubation, lasting 11-13 days, requires brief intervals during which the female eats and adjusts the eggs.
Upon hatching, the pair discards eggshells, and the female often consumes them for calcium replenishment. Young chickadees, featherless at birth, rely on their mother for warmth, prompting the father's role in food provision. Nestlings mainly consume caterpillars and insects, with their parents distinguishing tasty caterpillar types by leaf patterns. As nestlings mature, parents must dispose of waste, flying feces away to minimize risk. When very young, parents might ingest the waste for its nutrient content.
Summer: Approximately 16 days after hatching, nestlings fledge. Similar to human parents, parent chickadees employ food as enticement. After fledging, the family unit ventures beyond the nest, with adults continuing to feed their young. Gradually, fledglings begin independent foraging, although they'll still request food from parents. This familial structure endures for about four weeks before the adults cease feeding their young, encouraging self-sufficiency. Adults revert to winter flocking habits, while young chickadees, with lower status, join other flocks.
Fall: Chickadees, like many animals, store food for later, with peak caching in autumn. A chickadee can stash hundreds or even a thousand seeds daily, each in its unique hiding spot. Their spatial memory, attributed to a larger hippocampus, allows them to recall both storage locations and order. This ability ensures access to higher-quality food. Just before peak caching, hippocampus regions linked to last year's storage locations break down, forming new connections for this year's hoard.
Caching activities synchronize with winter flock formation, and rank in the flock dictates foraging locations. Higher-ranking birds forage in safe, abundant areas, while lower-ranking individuals venture into exposed, food-scarce regions. In feeders, several flocks might coexist, with pecking order determining access. A seed-cracking bird typically ranks higher, while lower-ranking ones carry their seeds to open them.
The black-capped chickadee thrives on intricate social behaviors. Though indistinguishable to us, their world is one of order. Possessing impressive memories, they can retrieve seeds hidden over two weeks ago, a feat I envy. Observing chickadees, my admiration has deepened, inviting you to relish their presence too.
Submitted by Cathy Wesley, naturalist, August 2023