There are seven species of chickadees native to North America. These include the black-capped chickadee, mountain chickadee, carolina chickadee, boreal chickadee, mexican chickadee, gray-headed chickadee and chestnut-backed chickadee.
Chickadees use both songs and calls to communicate with conspecifics, and possibly heterospecifics. Songs are typically regarded as more complex signals than calls, however with only one song type (fee bee), several calls produced by chickadees may in fact be considered more complex. The vocalization made for which the birds are named is the chick-a-dee call. This call contains four notes types (in black-capped chickadees): termed A, B, C and D notes. Although the note types are almost always found in order from A through D, the number of notes in a call may vary and individual calls may not contain all note types. For example, a call may be as followed: AAACDDD. The chick-a-dee call shows that chickadees may have an extremely complex communication system. For this reason, research continues in an attempt to identify the information that the chick-a-dee call is able to convey to conspecifics (and possibly heterospecifics). Another type of call produced by most chickadee species is the gargle call, which is used to during antagonistic encounters with conspecifics.
Chickadees are well studied compared to many other species of birds; however there is still a lot that can be learned about their complex communication system. Each call variant by the birds needs to be analyzed further to elucidate the potential "message" attempting to be conveyed.
Chickadees use both songs and calls to communicate with conspecifics, and possibly heterospecifics. Songs are typically regarded as more complex signals than calls, however with only one song type (fee bee), several calls produced by chickadees may in fact be considered more complex. The vocalization made for which the birds are named is the chick-a-dee call. This call contains four notes types (in black-capped chickadees): termed A, B, C and D notes. Although the note types are almost always found in order from A through D, the number of notes in a call may vary and individual calls may not contain all note types. For example, a call may be as followed: AAACDDD. The chick-a-dee call shows that chickadees may have an extremely complex communication system. For this reason, research continues in an attempt to identify the information that the chick-a-dee call is able to convey to conspecifics (and possibly heterospecifics). Another type of call produced by most chickadee species is the gargle call, which is used to during antagonistic encounters with conspecifics.
Chickadees are well studied compared to many other species of birds; however there is still a lot that can be learned about their complex communication system. Each call variant by the birds needs to be analyzed further to elucidate the potential "message" attempting to be conveyed.
The Seven Species of Chickadees
Black-capped chickadee
(Poecile atricapillus)
Most closely related to the mountain chickadee, black-capped chickadees can be found throughout Canada and the Northern half of the United States. Black-capped chickadees prefer lower lying terrain containing both coniferous and deciduous trees. Black-capped chickadees mate once a year and they begin mating when they are a year old. In the Bloomfield Lab playback studies are currently used to further explore call perception in black-capped chickadees.
Photo Cred: Gord Belyea
(Poecile atricapillus)
Most closely related to the mountain chickadee, black-capped chickadees can be found throughout Canada and the Northern half of the United States. Black-capped chickadees prefer lower lying terrain containing both coniferous and deciduous trees. Black-capped chickadees mate once a year and they begin mating when they are a year old. In the Bloomfield Lab playback studies are currently used to further explore call perception in black-capped chickadees.
Photo Cred: Gord Belyea
Mountain chickadee
(P. gambeli)
Mountain chickadees prefer higher altitudes and
can be found throughout the Rocky Mountains.
Photo Cred: Randy Mehoves
(P. gambeli)
Mountain chickadees prefer higher altitudes and
can be found throughout the Rocky Mountains.
Photo Cred: Randy Mehoves
Carolina chickadee
(P. carolinensis)
The carolina chickadee has an appearance very similar to black-capped chickadees,
but its neck bib and head cap are more defined. Although the carolina chickadee can be easily mistaken as a black-capped chickadee based on appearance alone, their fee-bee song contains four notes whereas the black-capped chickadee's fee-bee song only contains two notes.
Photo Cred: Errol Taskin
(P. carolinensis)
The carolina chickadee has an appearance very similar to black-capped chickadees,
but its neck bib and head cap are more defined. Although the carolina chickadee can be easily mistaken as a black-capped chickadee based on appearance alone, their fee-bee song contains four notes whereas the black-capped chickadee's fee-bee song only contains two notes.
Photo Cred: Errol Taskin
Boreal chickadee
(P. hudsonicus)
Boreal chickadees prefer coniferous woods. Boreal chickadees
mate for life but often live in small flocks rather than as a lone pair.
Photo Cred: Nicolas Dory
(P. hudsonicus)
Boreal chickadees prefer coniferous woods. Boreal chickadees
mate for life but often live in small flocks rather than as a lone pair.
Photo Cred: Nicolas Dory
Mexican chickadee
(P. sclateri)
Native to Mexico, it has been found that C notes are particularly
rare in the chick-a-dee calls of this species.
Photo Cred: Martin Meyers
(P. sclateri)
Native to Mexico, it has been found that C notes are particularly
rare in the chick-a-dee calls of this species.
Photo Cred: Martin Meyers
Gray-headed chickadee
(P. cinctus)
The gray-headed chickadee can be found in Alaska as well as throughout the far northwest of Canada. Also known as the Siberian Tit, gray-headed chickadees do not have grey heads as they have black, white and brown feathers on their heads.
Photo Cred: Rene De Heer
(P. cinctus)
The gray-headed chickadee can be found in Alaska as well as throughout the far northwest of Canada. Also known as the Siberian Tit, gray-headed chickadees do not have grey heads as they have black, white and brown feathers on their heads.
Photo Cred: Rene De Heer
Chestnut-backed chickadee
(P. rufescens)
Chestnut-backed chickadees live along the West coast of Canada and the United States. Their dark brown feathers help them to easily blend into the wet woods of this region.
Photo Cred: Linda Lamb
(P. rufescens)
Chestnut-backed chickadees live along the West coast of Canada and the United States. Their dark brown feathers help them to easily blend into the wet woods of this region.
Photo Cred: Linda Lamb
Dr. Laurie Bloomfield, Associate Professor Algoma University
Office: SH 502 Phone: (705) 949-2301 x4314 Laboratory: CC 103 Phone: (705) 949-2301 x1018 E-mail: [email protected]
Office: SH 502 Phone: (705) 949-2301 x4314 Laboratory: CC 103 Phone: (705) 949-2301 x1018 E-mail: [email protected]