The chickadees’ tiny black bills are actually powerful little tools. Although these active birds eat insects, spiders and insect eggs, they have no problem clenching a peanut or sunflower seed between their feet and pounding it into sizeable portions.
These tiny black and white birds, with small but sturdy beaks, can be identified easily with their black caps, black bibs, and white breast. You may also see light yellowish-beige on their sides if you look closely.
Chickadees will readily go to almost any style of feeder. their small size and acrobatic ability allows them many options from hanging suet, tube feeders, and trays. They are much more polite at the feeder than most birds, taking only one seed at a time. Favoured foods include unsalted nuts (including peanuts), peanut butter, suet, raw hamburger, mealworms, and both black and striped sunflower seeds.
Black-capped chickadees inhabit mixed and deciduous forests in Nova Scotia. They have been found in parks and suburbs and in cities where backyard trees have been left to grow. They are easily tamed and readily will go to your hand if offered sunflower or peanuts. These birds can also be encouraged to nest in birdhouses on your property, provided the entrance hole is not too big to allow predators or larger birds in. These small, quick gymnasts are resident birds year round and among the first to arrive at newly placed backyard feeders. Their spring song is likened to "cheese-burg-er" and is as easy to recognize at the common chick-a-dee-dee-dee song often heard.