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Description:
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Black-capped chickadees are short, plump, active birds, measuring approximately 5 inches in length. Both sexes appear similar, with a blac cap and bib, and white cheeks. The back and wings are a dark greenish-gray, streaked with white and black (Roof 1997). The chickadee has a distinguishing two-note "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" vocalization (Cornell 1998). |
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Geographic
Range:
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This bird is confined to North America, ranging through most of Canada and the upper two-thirds of the United States (Roof 1997). |
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Habitat
Requirements:
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The black-capped chickadee prefers deciduous woodlands, open woods and parks, cottonwood groves, and willow thickets (Roof 1997). It is also fairly tame and common in backyards, and is often found in small flocks foraging through woodlands or at feeders, and near edges of wooded areas (Cornell 1998). Its diet consists of 70% animals (mostly insects) and 30% plants (seeds and fruit). Pairs have set territories, ranging from 1.5 to 5.3 ha, and usually nest in tree cavities (Roof 1997). |
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Distribution
on the Preserve:
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Unknown, due to the lack of individuals detected during our census. |
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Status
on the Preserve:
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Based on the census data, little can be determined of the status of the black-capped chickadee on the property. However, individuals were observed in the fall, and a population is known to breed there. The preserve contains plenty of ideal nesting sites (dead deciduous trees), and thus the property is expected to support a population of the species well into the future. |
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Literature
Cited:
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Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. April 2, 2001. "Black-capped Chickadee." http://birds.cornell.edu/bow/bcch Roof, J. April 2, 2001. "Black-capped Chickadee". The Regents of the University of Michigan. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/parus/p._tricapillus$narrative.html |