BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEEBy

Sedona Lewis

DESCRIPTIONThe Black Capped Chickadee has a long grey tail, white cheeks, a black bib and cap, and grey legs and feet. This bird weighs about 4 ounces and is from 5 in. to 3 cm. tall. Because it is so light, it can take off in a short amount of time , and it’s long tail also helps with that .

HABITAT My animal builds its nests in trees. They use sticks, hair, and to make it soft they even pluck their own feathers to line the nest. Usually their nests are built in abandoned woodpecker holes, but many rely on bird houses. Black Capped Chickadees mostly live in Colorado, Wyoming, and the South-Western United States.

DIETThe Black Capped Chickadee eats mostly insects, berries, and seeds. My animal may fly out quickly to catch it’s prey or just pick berries. Its beak helps it pick berries, and its colors help it blend its habitat. It eats at least 4 times a day, It eats once in the morning, twice in the day, and once in the evening.

LIFE CYCLEBlack Capped Chickadees usually live from 1-5 years old and has 1-9 chicks in a year. The parents care for their young by bringing them food, water, and when they get older teach them to fly. When they are a baby their parents bring them food, water, and what ever they need. As an adult they first have to find a mate, and a nest, and raising there young. And did you know, there eggs are white with brown spots? Wow!! I really enjoyed doing this presentation and hope to do it again!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Internet sources: Black-capped Chickadee. Cornell Lab of

Ornithology, 1 Apr. 2009, http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAbout Birds/Bird Guide/Blackcapped_Chickadee.html

Black-capped Chickadee. Nature Works, 1 Apr. 2009, New Hampshire Public Television, http://www.nhptv.org/NATUREWORKS/blackcappedchickadee.htm

 

Book sources: Tekiela, Stan. Birds of Colorado. Cambridge, MN:

Adventure Publications, 2001. Alsop, Fred J. Birds of North America. New York,

NY: DK Publishing, 2001.