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Bird Sounds: Black-Capped Chickadee

The bold little chickadee is a welcome sight at any feeder.

Photo Credit
Photo by USFWS Mountain-Prairie via Wikimedia Commons

Black-capped Chickadee Calls

Tom Warren
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Here you can identify the sounds and birdsong of the black-capped chickadee. You may recognize their “chick-a-dee-dee-ee” or the whistled “fee-bee.”

  1. Listen first for the two-note whistle of the male black-capped chickadee. It’s a very clear two-note song that drops in pitch and sounds like “fee-bee.” Now you know what THAT sound is! The males begin singing in mid-January, and the song increases in frequency as winter progresses. Females also sing occasionally.
  2. Then, listen for the chickadee call which sounds like “chickadee-dee-dee.“  Interestingly, they will use an increasing numbers of dee notes when they are alarmed.

If you wish to attract the friendly chickadee, they will readily visit bird feeders and especially like sunflower seeds or suet in winter. You may see them take the food and fly away to store in a tree crevice for later.

Their diet is mostly seeds, insects, and berries. They can been seen hopping among branches and foraging for food, even flying out to catch insects mid-air.

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The bird sounds are complimentary, with permission from The Macaulay Library at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Click here to listen to the sounds of other birds!

Have you heard a black-capped chickadee? Add your comments below. Be sure to let us know where you live or where you’ve heard this bird sound before!

Bird Sounds
About The Author

Tom Warren

Tom Warren is a lifelong bird enthusiast. Tom is also committed to protecting birds and their habitat as a Trustee for both Massachusetts and New Hampshire Audubon, and the Harris Nature Center. Read More from Tom Warren
 

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Comments

Jordan (not verified)

9 months 3 weeks ago

I always wait to hear these birds every spring living near Vancouver, British Columbia. My mom always made fun of me for whistling to them, but they always call back if they're in the area.

Barbara Henn-Pander (not verified)

1 year 4 months ago

What a clear sound! My dad taught me this bird first as a child. I put up two chickadee nest boxes this year but so far no nesting birds. We do get visitors to the yard, though, and I am methodically trying to build bird friendly habitat: thickets, seed bearing flowers, etc. Totally enchanted! Thank you!!

Karen M (not verified)

1 year 4 months ago

The chickadee has long been one of my favorite birds. Their singing makes me happy and smile. Living in Minnesota, we are lucky to hear them year-round.

Vince (not verified)

1 year 6 months ago

I've heard this bird all my life in southeast Michigan and always wondered what it was. Its whistle is so clear that it sounds artificial. Glad to know what it is now!

Deborah Doucet (not verified)

1 year 6 months ago

I have a black capped chickadee in my yard. He or she , calls from morning until night! I don't know how he still has a voice.
I live in Bolingbrook Illinois

Lisa Parham (not verified)

1 year 6 months ago

I have heard this bird in our backyard in Dalton, GA.