Black capped chickadees are small songbirds that are found throughout much of North America. They are active, acrobatic little birds that are a delight to watch as they flit between tree branches. Black capped chickadees have distinctive plumage, with a black cap and bib, white cheeks, and soft gray underparts. Their backs and wings are gray with white edging on the wing feathers. These active birds can be found in a variety of forested habitats across their range.
Deciduous forests
One of the primary tree habitats for black capped chickadees is deciduous forests. Deciduous trees have broad leaves that are shed annually. Common deciduous trees that chickadees will frequent include oaks, maples, birches, aspens, beeches, and various fruit trees. Deciduous forests provide chickadees with plenty of food sources, including insects, seeds, and berries. The bare winter branches also give easy access to dormant insects and spiders. Deciduous forests across much of the United States and Canada provide excellent habitat for black capped chickadees.
Oak trees
Oaks are an especially favored deciduous tree for black capped chickadees. Oak species like white oak, red oak, pin oak, and others produce acorns, which are an important food source for chickadees. Chickadees will glean insects from the bark and leaves of oaks and probe into cracks and crevices searching for dormant insects. Oaks provide good nesting sites, with holes and cavities for nesting. The broad canopies of oaks also help shade and protect chickadee nests during the breeding season.
Maple trees
Maples like sugar maple, red maple, and silver maple are also deciduous trees chickadees appreciate. Maples host insects like aphids and caterpillars that chickadees eagerly feed on. Maples produce winged seed pods called samaras that chickadees will consume. The peeling bark on maples provides opportunities for chickadees to search for insects and spiders. The branching structure of maples gives chickadees plenty of spots to perch and forage.
Birch trees
Paper birch and yellow birch trees are two of the birch species frequented by black capped chickadees. The catkins of birch trees produce seeds that chickadees will eat. Birch trees also provide nesting sites for chickadees, with holes in broken branches or within the trunks. Chickadees forage along the branches and twigs of birch trees searching for insect meals.
Fruit trees
Fruit trees like apples, cherries, peaches, and pears provide sources of fruit and seeds for black capped chickadees. These trees support many insect species as well, giving chickadees lots of foraging opportunities. Fruit trees in backyards, orchards, and natural woodlands help supplement the diet of chickadees.
Coniferous forests
In addition to deciduous forests, coniferous forests with cone-bearing trees are another prime habitat for black capped chickadees. Common conifers these songbirds inhabit include pines, firs, spruces, cedars, hemlocks, and redwoods. The seeds within conifer cones are an important food for chickadees. Conifers also provide protective cover as well as resin and sap that chickadees use to coat their feathers.
Pine trees
Various pine tree species are chickadee habitat, including white pine, red pine, jack pine, pitch pine, and loblolly pine. The seeds within pine cones are a favored food. Chickadees will also eat the inner bark of pines, along with feeding on insects they find clinging to the bark and needles. Pine trees make good nesting sites, with old woodpecker holes or other small cavities for chickadees to build their nests.
Fir trees
Fir trees in the genus Abies, like balsam fir and Fraser fir, host chickadees as well. Firs hold their needle-like leaves all winter, which allows chickadees to stay well hidden. The fir cones also supply chickadees with nutritious seeds to eat. Chickadees will scope out gaps in fir branches or holes in the trunk to make their nests.
Spruce trees
Spruce trees offer another good conifer habitat. Black, white, blue, and Norway spruce trees provide shelter and food sources for chickadees. The small winged seeds within spruce cones supplement the chickadee diet. Chickadees will glean through spruce needles searching for spiders and insects. The cover of spruce trees gives protection from predators and harsh weather.
Hemlock trees
Hemlock trees like eastern hemlock and Carolina hemlock host chickadees as well. The needle-like leaves provide year-round shelter and roosting spots. Hemlocks produce small cones with seeds chickadees eat. Chickadees will travel along hemlock branches finding insects and spiders to prey upon.
Cedar trees
Cedar trees in the genus Cedrus, like eastern red cedar, provide additional habitat for black capped chickadees. The small cones and waxy berry-like cones of cedars produce food for the birds. Cedars are evergreen trees that give chickadees cover during winter. Chickadees enjoy foraging among the Scale-life foliage of cedar trees.
Mixed forests
Many forests contain a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, offering chickadees the advantages of both habitat types. With a diversity of tree species, these mixed forests supply chickadees with a variety of food and shelter resources. Some common trees found in mixed forests utilized by chickadees include oak, maple, birch, pine, spruce, fir, and hemlock.
Northern forests
The northern forests of New England, the upper Midwest, and across Canada have a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees. Common species in these forests include white pine, red pine, balsam fir, paper birch, quaking aspen, balsam poplar, white spruce, maple, and oak. The diversity of tree species supports healthy chickadee populations across their northern range.
Eastern forests
In eastern North America, chickadees frequent mixed forests of oak, hickory, birch, maple, beech, pine, hemlock, and other species. These woodlands stretching from Canada down into the southeastern U.S. provide ideal habitat for black capped chickadees through a combination of deciduous and coniferous trees.
Western forests
Out west, chickadees inhabit mixed coniferous forests of firs, pines, redwoods, cedars, and hemlocks. Some deciduous trees like aspens, oaks, maples, and cottonwoods supplement the conifers. The tree diversity found in these western forests supplies chickadees with the resources they need.
Riparian areas
Riparian areas are the zones along rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. These areas support chickadees due to the combination of conifers and deciduous trees. Common riparian trees include various willows, alders, aspens, cottonwoods, pines, spruces, and hemlocks. The mixture of tree types provides food and shelter. Riparian areas give chickadees access to water for drinking and bathing as well.
Lowland riparian areas
Riparian areas in lowlands and valleys support trees like willows, aspens, cottonwoods, red cedar, hackberry, and sycamores. The diversity of deciduous trees provides seeds and insects. Conifers like red cedar allow for year-round shelter and roosting. These lowland riparian zones create prime chickadee habitat through tree variety.
Montane riparian areas
At higher mountain elevations, montane riparian areas support chickadees through trees like willows, alders, aspens, spruces, firs, and pines. Snowmelt and high mountain streams create riparian zones chickadees rely on, especially in drier western climates. The combination of deciduous and coniferous montane tree species creates ideal habitat.
Backyard and urban trees
In addition to their natural forest habitats, black capped chickadees readily adapt to backyard settings and urban areas. They frequent trees in city parks, residential neighborhoods, and anywhere mature trees occur. Chickadees are often drawn to backyard bird feeders as well, displaying their acrobatic skill and lively antics.
Favorite backyard trees
Some favorite trees chickadees utilize in backyards and urban green spaces include:
- Oaks – pin oak, red oak, white oak
- Maples – sugar maple, red maple, silver maple
- Birches – paper birch, river birch
- Fruit trees – apple, pear, cherry, peach
- Evergreens – white pine, blue spruce, eastern red cedar
These deciduous and coniferous tree species help support urban and suburban chickadee populations by providing food, shelter, and nesting sites.
Backyard management tips
Some tips for making your backyard more chickadee friendly:
- Plant native trees that produce seeds and fruit
- Leave dead trees and branches for nesting cavities
- Supply a bird bath for drinking and bathing
- Put up nest boxes suitable for chickadees
- Provide black oil sunflower seeds and suet cakes
Following these simple practices can help attract lively flocks of black capped chickadees to your backyard!
Conclusion
Black capped chickadees are adaptable birds that inhabit a wide range of forest types across North America. Their primary tree habitats include deciduous forests, coniferous forests, mixed forests, and riparian areas. Chickadees flock to trees that provide food sources like seeds, berries, sap, and insects. They also utilize trees with cavities and holes for nesting and roosting. Some favorite trees include oaks, pines, firs, birches, aspens, maples, and hemlocks. With their lively antics and boldness at feeders, chickadees are birds that bring delight to any forest or backyard they inhabit.
