Just... General information

Today, I just wanted to post some general information on chickadees... (I know I already had an information post, but this is more on... It's just general information..

1. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum:

Chordata Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Paridae Genus: Poecile

Species: P. atricapillus

2. The black-capped chickadee is a small, nonmigratory, North American songbird that lives in deciduous and mixed forests. It is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It's the state bird of both Maine and Massachusetts in the United States, and the provincial bird of New Brunswick in Canada.It is considered cute due to its oversized round head, tiny body, and apparent curiosity about everything, including humans.

3. These birds are permanent, (meaning they stay in one area/ecosystem for a longer time than most birds) but sometimes they move south within their range, and even outside of it, in the fall or winter. During the winter, different chickadee families often flock together. Many other species of birds, including titmice, nuthatches, and warblers can also be found living in these flocks. Mixed flocks stay together because the chickadees call out whenever they find a good source of food. (like a bird feeder, or a nest with caterpillars, etc...) This calling-out forms a 'strong bond' for the group, and it allows the other birds to find food more efficiently. When flocking, black-capped chickadees soon establish a rigid social hierarchy. In such hierarchies, males usually rank over females, and older birds over younger.

4. Black-capped chickadees sleep in thick vegetation or in cavities, usually alone, though there have been suggestions that they may occasionally roost clumped together. They sleep with their bill tucked under the shoulder feathers. It scratches its head with its foot over the wing, and because of its tiny size, it can bathe in water, dew, or snow. Younger chickadees have been observed to go dust-bathing.

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