Chickadees are small songbirds found throughout North America. They are known for their acrobatic movements, their familiar “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call, and their ability to thrive in human-altered environments. Chickadees build intricate nests in which they raise their young each spring and summer. But where exactly do chickadees make their nests?
Chickadee Nesting Habits
Chickadees are cavity nesters, meaning they build their nests inside cavities in trees, fallen logs, stumps, or even manmade nest boxes. They do not build open-cup nests like many other songbirds. Using an existing cavity provides chickadees protection from predators and shelter from weather. Chickadees will excavate their own cavities in rotting wood, but more often they rely on old woodpecker holes or other natural hollows in dead trees. Nest cavities can range from just a few feet off the ground to over 30 feet high.
Chickadees are resourceful in utilizing a variety of natural and manmade cavity options for their nest sites. They readily use nest boxes, which allows researchers and bird enthusiasts to observe their nesting habits more easily. Chickadees also sometimes choose odd nesting sites like fence posts, PVC pipes, or metal boxes.
Ideal Cavity Characteristics
When selecting a nesting cavity, chickadees look for some ideal characteristics:
- Cavity opening between 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 inches in diameter – large enough for adults to enter but small enough to exclude most predators
- Cavity depth between 6 – 15 inches deep
- Inner cavity volume of at least 4 x 4 x 8 inches (about 1,280 cubic centimeters)
- Roughened inner walls that allow the birds to cling while entering/exiting
- Sturdy cavity material (hard wood) that provides insulation
Chickadees will occasionally nest in natural tree cavities that are much deeper than their preferred 15 inches. They will fill excessively deep cavities with nesting material to reduce the depth.
Favored Nesting Trees
Chickadees nest in a diversity of tree species across North America. Their favored nest trees depend in part on the habitat, tree species available, and cavity resources in a given area. Some commonly used nest trees include:
- Aspen – Often used where abundant, especially in western North America
- Birch – Dead birch trees are a key resource, often excavated by woodpeckers first
- Willow – Provides cavities in wetter habitats like wetlands and riparian areas
- Maple – Nest in sugar maple snags where available
- Alder – Utilize cavities in thin-barked alder trees in wetter areas
- Oak – Use oak cavities in more open, oak-dominated habitats
- Pine – Favored for nest boxes attached to pine trees in backyard settings
Chickadees are adaptable and innovative in their nest site selection. Almost any tree species, dead or alive, can provide suitable nesting cavities.
Ideal Nesting Locations
Within their preferred forest habitat types, chickadees seek out specific locations that meet their nest site needs:
- Forest edges – Provide food resources like insects while nesting within the forest
- Forest openings/clearings – Allow access to shrubby food sources near nest sites
- Partially open forest canopy – Offers a mix of cover, feeding areas, and flight paths
- Deciduous or mixed forests – Supply necessary cavities and insect food
- Forested wetlands – Provide favored nest trees like aspen, birch, and willow
- Mature forests with snags – Offer an abundance of natural cavity options
- Pine-oak woodlands – Mix of oak cavities and potential nest boxes on pines
Chickadees generally avoid nesting in vast expanses of unbroken forest. They prefer habitat mosaics that provide the resources they need within a relatively small area.
Nest Heights
Chickadee nest heights can vary substantially depending on the nest site. Natural tree cavities can be anywhere from eye level to over 30 feet high. In aspen stands, chickadees often nest 10-20 feet up in dead snags. Nest boxes are most successful at eye level heights for easy chickadee access. On average, chickadee nest heights are often between 5 – 15 feet above the ground.
Nesting Density
Chickadees are considered semi-colonial nesters. They sometimes nest in loose colonies, with multiple pairs nesting in the same grove of trees at relatively high densities. This offers some protection from predators and competition for food. Typical chickadee nest densities observed in different habitats include:
- Deciduous forest – 1 pair per 10-12 acres
- Evergreen forest – 1 pair per 15-20 acres
- Mixed forest – 1 pair per 8-10 acres
- Riparian forest – 1 pair per 5-8 acres
- Urban parks – 1 pair per 1-3 acres
Nest density increases where suitable cavities are abundant. Nest boxes can allow higher densities in backyards and neighborhoods.
Nest Construction
Chickadee nest construction is a simple but well-engineered process. The female takes the lead but is often accompanied by the male. Nest building typically takes 6-12 days. Chickadees use a variety of natural and man-made materials.
Typical Chickadee Nest Materials
- Moss – Provides a soft cup-shaped base, the foundation for other materials
- Grasses – Used for forming the sturdy outer nest walls
- Bark strips – Added for structural support
- Spider silk – Helps bind materials together
- Shed snake skins – May be woven in for durability
- Pine needles – Often line the inner cup of the nest
- Hair – Mammal or feathers for cushioning
- Shredded paper – Readily used from nearby human sources
Chickadees carry materials one piece at a time back to the nest cavity. They use their beaks to weave and intertwine materials into a secure structure. The inner nest cup averages 4-5 inches across and 2-3 inches deep when complete.
Timing of Chickadee Nesting
Chickadee nest timing varies across their range based on elevation, latitude, and seasonal temperatures. They generally nest from early spring through mid summer. Egg laying typically begins:
- Southern range – Early March to early April
- Central range – Mid April to early May
- Northern range – May through early June
- Higher elevations – Late May through July
Chickadees are a single brood species, raising just one clutch per year. However, they will re-nest up to 2 more times if initial nests fail. Nest building may begin 4-6 weeks before the first egg is laid. Chickadees are prolific cavity users, often taking over a new cavity or nest box within days of it becoming available.
Nest Sanitation
Chickadees maintain tidy nests and cavities. They carry fecal sacs from the nest to dispose of them away from the cavity. Fecal sacs are the feces enclosed in a membrane sheath that nestlings produce initially. Adults remove and eat fecal sacs to keep the nest clean and reduce odors that could attract predators. Chickadees also routinely replace soiled nesting material throughout the nestling period.
Nesting Success
Chickadee nest success rates can vary by habitat and predator populations. Various studies show average success from 35% to over 60% of nests fledging young. Evergreens provide more protective cover with higher success rates. Nest boxes also boost success by excluding predators.
Causes of chickadee nest failures include:
- Predation – Squirrels, raccoons, snakes, climbing predators
- Weather – High winds, heavy rain, flooding
- Abandonment – Insufficient resources, female mortality
- Parasitism – Brown-headed cowbird egg laying
- Competition – Takeovers by other cavity nesters
- Infertility – Less common but occasional issue
Providing appropriate nest sites and controlling nuisance predators, such as squirrels or raccoons, can help increase chickadee nesting success. Allowing chickadees access to fibers, hair, and shredded paper helps ensure they construct secure, weather-resistant nests.
Helping Chickadees Nest
Here are some tips for supporting nesting chickadees in your area:
- Put up nest boxes designed for chickadees
- Leave dead snags and stumps whenever it is safe to do so
- Allow old, decaying trees to stand where they do not pose a hazard
- Create small forest openings to provide feeding areas near nest sites
- Protect stands of aspens, birches, and other chickadee-favored nest trees
- Reduce squirrel populations and restrict raccoon access, where feasible
- Provide nest-building materials like pet fur, dryer lint, and yarn in mesh bags
- Monitor nest boxes to get rid of invasive house sparrows if needed
With appropriate habitat and cavities, chickadees are remarkably flexible and opportunistic in utilizing whatever sites meet their nesting needs. Observing the chickadee’s resourceful nesting behaviors and industrious constructions up close is both enjoyable and informative. Watching adults busily carry materials, seeing eggs safely hatch, and witnessing the nestlings grow and eventually fledge is a rewarding spring and summer experience for any bird enthusiast. Chickadees provide a model of nesting efficiency and success. Their adaptability ensures they can raise their young in wild, urban, and backyard settings across the northern half of America.
Conclusion
Chickadees build exquisite nests inside cavities in an assortment of trees and manmade structures. They prefer protected forest edges near feeding areas within their range. Ideal cavity dimensions and nesting trees are well established. Chickadees initiate nests 4-6 weeks before egg laying begins based on climate. The female leads construction over 6-12 days using moss, grass, fibers, and more. Meticulous sanitation and tidiness help achieve high nest success rates. Providing nest boxes and habitat resources helps support chickadees. Observing chickadee nesting behaviors offers a rewarding window into their unique life history. Chickadees serve as a model species for understanding the ecology of cavity nesters. Their flexibility and ingenious use of nest materials in diverse sites across the northern forests reflects their adaptability and success.
