How many varieties of chickadees are there?
There are seven different species of chickadees in the U.S. All of them have snazzy dark caps and black bibs.
What type is chickadee?
American chickadees are a part of the Paridae family, a group of more than 50 small, stocky birds that you generally find in the woods eating seeds or insects. Paridae species are found throughout the northern hemisphere and Africa, but they’re only called “chickadees” here.

Is a coal tit the same as a chickadee?
The coal tit (Periparus ater) is smaller than a Carolina chickadee though he looks large in the photo below. Unlike our chickadees, his nape is white and he sometimes raises a tiny black crest on his head.
Is there more than one kind of chickadee?
In the United States, you can find 5 different kinds of chickadees. Below you will learn more about each species AND how to identify them by sight OR sound. Make sure to pay attention to the range maps to see which chickadees live near you!
Why is it called chickadee?
Their name reputedly comes from the fact that their calls make a distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee-dee”, though their normal call is actually fee-bee, and the famous chick-a-dee-dee-dee is an alarm call.

Are chickadees sparrows?
Chickadees are small, North American birds in the tit family. Sparrows are larger than chickadees and North American species belong to the Passerellidae family.
Is a chickadee a titmouse?
The Carolina Chickadee is slightly smaller than the Tufted Titmouse with a bold black-and-white head unlike the plain-faced Tufted Titmouse. They also lack the Tufted Titmouse’s crest.
What bird looks like chickadee?
The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is a small, non-migratory often mistaken for a chickadee. This bird measures only 5″ inches in length, and can be found year round on both coasts of California and as far north as Washington state; they can also be found all along the West Coast of North America.
What other birds look like chickadees?
13 Birds That Look Like Chickadees (Explained)
- Black-tailed Gnatcatcher.
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
- American Tree Sparrow.
- Black-throated sparrow.
- Tufted Titmouse.
- White-breasted Nuthatch.
- Blackpoll Warbler.
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee.
What is a chickadee?
The chickadees are a group of North American birds in the tit family included in the genus Poecile. Species found in North America are referred to as chickadees, while other species in the genus are called tits.
How many Dees does a chickadee have?
The number of “dees” depends on the predator. The chickadee (specifically the black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus, formerly Parus atricapillus) is the official bird for the US states of Massachusetts and Maine.
What do chickadees do in the fall?
Chickadees are always on the move, picking off insects of any stage—eggs, larvae, pupae, adults—from leaves and branches. Pairs remain together year-round. From fall through early spring, the birds form small roaming flocks with titmice, nuthatches, warblers, brown creepers, kinglets and the occasional woodpecker.
What are the personality traits of a chickadee?
These adorable birds duck and dodge through branches as they hunt down small insects. Not only are these birds super cute, they also have winning personalities. They are curious and unafraid of humans, and old-time birders call this classic chickadee trait “confiding.”. Learn how to identify and attract chickadees.