Chickadee Song

by Julia Beard

Pictured Rocks has many permanent inhabitants, one of which is the Black-capped Chickadee. The Black-capped Chickadee is easy to identify by their rounded head, distinctive black cap and bib, white cheeks, slat gray back, and long narrow tail. Their instinctive curiosity gives this little bird the reputation of frequent camp visitor or camp robber. In any season you are most likely to hear a Chickadee before you see one. They will proudly announce that they have found you then swoop down from there perch for a closer look.

Their songs are one of the most common in the Northern Woods. The simple clear whistle of two notes is used to maintain contact with the flock. Only the males will sing their distinctive fee-bee when in relative isolation from other chickadees to let the flock know where they are. Their most familiar call, the chick-a-dee-dee-dee, gives this bird its name. It is commonly a warning message and includes variations for specific predators. Research has shown that the number of dees in a call relates to the severity of the threat from nearby predators.

The distinctive fee-bee and chick-a-dee-dee-dee can be heard at any season. The less common sounds of the Chickadee can be heard only in the spring and winter. In the spring the males sing to find mates and the food calls from the chicks are short, loud whistles. In the winter squabbles over bird feeders or feeding areas are heard as long busts of many different notes. These songs are called garbles and can mean many different things; most common they are a form of contest between two birds to see who is of higher standing in the flock.

As you walk through the trails of Pictured Rocks you are likely to hear these songs of the Chickadees. They will announce your presence to all who can hear by giving off the alarm call of chick-a-dee-dee-dee. Then as other Chickadees start to join in on the alarm, one or two young Chickadees will follow you to see where you are going and what you are doing in their woods. The curiosity of these little birds can be peaked if you sit down and become very still. Their alarm calls will slowly fade away to the comforting two toned whistle and small, soft peen tone to tell all other birds the threat is gone. Soon you will see the Chickadees

Pictured Rocks contains many wonderful things, the songs of the Black- capped Chickadee is just one of them. As you listen to the clips of Chickadee songs imagine a light, fresh breeze off of Lake Superior and the cool, soft sand under your feet. Enjoy the freedom of the Chickadee.

Photo: Bruce MacQueen; iStockphoto Audio: Julia Beard

hopping from tree branch to tree branch catching spiders and insects as they watch to see what you will do. If you wait there long enough you might see a dispute between two birds and hear the garbles of their contest. Or you might catch a glimpse of a nest or chicks as they call for food. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30