Black-capped Chickadee

Parus atricapillus

Black-capped Chickadees breed primarily in deciduous, open woodlands. They are generally more common near edges of wooded areas but can be found in the middle of large wooded tracts (Smith 1993). They occur in upland and riparian habitats, and where large trees are available in well-shaded residential areas, parks and small woodlots (Terres 1987). They nest in dead snags, rotten branches, old woodpecker holes, bird boxes and even in the ground (Smith 1991).

Code Frequency

Black-capped Chickadees are one of the easiest birds to detect. Early in the season when they are calling most, they are easy to separate from Carolina Chickadees by their song. Because of their small size and the forested habitat in which they reside, chickadees were apparently difficult to elevate to the probable or confirmed categories. Accordingly, many probable records, especially those in northern Missouri, likely indicated breeding areas.

The Atlas Project required that documentation forms be completed in an attempt to insure the proper identification of Black-capped versus Carolina chickadees, especially where their ranges meet or where they were reported outside their expected range. Atlasers recorded both chickadee species in most southern Missouri blocks, suggesting they could identify both. The hybridization known to occur between Black-capped and Carolina chickadees (Braun and Robbins 1986) adds a source of error Atlas Project methodology did not address.

Average Number of Birds / 100 stops

Distribution

Abundance

Black-capped Chickadees were most abundant on surveys in west central and north central Missouri. Their abundance generally diminished toward the southern edge of their range.

Phenology

Black-capped Chickadees initiate nesting early based on the dates that nest building and bird on the nest were observed. Late observations may have been second broods. Smith (1993) reported that although second broods are rare in chickadees, they may be more frequent in low-density populations.

Notes

Atlasers observed no evidence of brood parasitism during this project. Black-capped Chickadees are rarely a host to Brown-headed Cowbirds as their cavity entrance is usually too small (Harrison 1975).

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 580 (48.1%) of 1,207 blocks

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