I've long been a fan of the black-capped chickadee. Just hearing one outside puts a smile on my face! So, today I'm profiling the chickadee group (chickadees, titmice, verdins, and bushtits) in the United States.

Identification

To determine whether you're looking at or hearing a chickadee or not, check out the links at Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds, the eNature bird field guide, or the field guide provided by the US Geological Survey.

Cornell Chickadee Information

• Black-Capped Chickadee
• Tufted Titmouse
• Carolina Chickadee
• Mountain Chickadee

Preferred Food

The wild birds in this group enjoy insects and seed, especially sunflower seed, but rarely eat thistle seed.

Preferred Feeders

Chickadees will eat out of most types of bird feeders, including but not limited to caged feeders like this medium-sized Metal Selective feeder, platform feeders, and suction-cup feeders such as this classic feeder.

Chickadees will not use upside-down perches, and titmice will eat from most feeders as well.

Preferred Housing

You can build your own chickadee birdhouse, or buy one.

Chickadee birdhouses are built to similar specifications as wren birdhouses.

Depending on the size of the chickadee and the house sparrow in your area, you may have trouble with sparrows edging out chickadees from the housing.

Range

The most common species in this group are

• the tufted titmouse (the East, Midwest, and Texas)
• black-capped chickadee (most of the Northern states, from Nebraska northward)
• Carolina Chickadee (Southern states, partially north of the Mason-Dixon line)

Habitat

You are more likely to see a chickadee or ally on your wildlife porch if you live

• in suburbia
• near old fields
• at the edge of a deciduous or mixed wooded area