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Bird Sounds: Black-Capped Chickadee

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

Image Credit:
Photo by USFWS Mountain-Prairie via Wikimedia Commons
Written By: Tom Warren Birder

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.

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

Birder

Tom Warren is a graduate of Harvard College and earned an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After serving in the US Army, he became a compensation professional. He has had...

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Comments

<span>Keith</span> Sun, 02/23/2020 - 17:03
I live in Ontario. I've heard both these calls all my life. I have often whistled the "fee-bee" call back when I have heard it, especially on quiet early morning strolls. It was very easy for me to recognise who was making the "chickadee-dee-dee-dee-dee", but who was making the "fee-bee" has always been a mystery to me, until today. Thank you. Chickadees are one of the relatively few bird species that keep us company throughout the long, cold, sometimes dreary winters here.
<span>Aaron</span> Fri, 06/08/2018 - 13:29
have always admired the chickadee, black capped predominantly here in south east alberta. had known that a pair had been nesting in yard, but left well enough along as with all. one morning a call that sounded as that of a very young robin been coaxed from nest asking for food. was actually chickadee just out of nest, with parent coaxing it along. youngsters "call" was a fast, quick "chickadee a dee" but only one "dee".
<span>Cassandra Cary</span> Sun, 05/06/2018 - 07:05
Does the low two-note call mean rain?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 05/08/2018 - 10:48

Chickadees use the two-note fee-bee call to communicate a variety of messages. When it's loud, it's usually related to males interested in attracting a mate or related to standing ground on its territory. When it's softer, it's often by one of the mated pair, either just calling to each other ("here I am") or telling each other to take a turn getting food. If there's any danger, they'll use the "chickadee-dee-dee" call.

 <span>Karen Mueller</span> Tue, 04/17/2018 - 09:51
I live in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) Minnesota. I get the pleasure of hearing them all year long! Probably the sweetest sound a bird can make comes from the Chickadee! I love when I hear them call out to each other.
<span>Rise Briggs</span> Sun, 04/15/2018 - 14:34
I talk to my black-capped chickadees just about every day....they tell me whey need suet or the bird feeder is getting low...
<span>Susie Garcia</span> Sat, 04/21/2018 - 15:49
I am blessed this little rascal comes on my TREE for almost 2 years NOW. So Beautiful and Enertaining. I live in California
<span>Lisa</span> Fri, 04/13/2018 - 18:55
Now I know which bird makes this sound! I live in western Washington.
<span>Jamie</span> Thu, 04/12/2018 - 08:08
am in n. west ohio /heard them in my canadian yew bush !!!!!! and they stay hid in there but there sound and song is wonderful.
<span>Leslie</span> Wed, 04/11/2018 - 12:05
Two little birds come to my feeders all year round. I've heard the two-note call of a male, starting April Fools, Easter, 2018. I bought a nest box for the happy couple, and hope they use it! I'm located in Audubon, PA.