Chickadees are adorable little birds that bring joy to any backyard. With their perky attitudes, bold black and white plumage, and sweet songs, chickadees are a delight to observe. Chickadees readily use birdhouses, so putting up a proper chickadee house is a great way to attract these charming birds to your yard.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about chickadees and chickadee birdhouses. We’ll discuss the habitat and diet of chickadees, the best birdhouse designs and placement for chickadees, when to put up your chickadee house, and how to make your yard as inviting as possible for chickadees. Follow these tips, and you’ll soon have a bustling chickadee family livening up your garden.
Chickadee Natural History
To optimize your birdhouse for chickadees, it’s helpful to understand a bit about these birds and their lifestyles. Here are some quick facts about the biology and behavior of chickadees:
Species
There are seven species of chickadees in North America:
– Black-capped chickadee – Most widespread; ranges across northern half of continent
– Carolina chickadee – Southeastern U.S.
– Mountain chickadee – Western mountains
– Chestnut-backed chickadee – Pacific Northwest
– Mexican chickadee – Southwestern U.S. and Mexico
– Boreal chickadee – Northern forests
– Gray-headed chickadee – Alaska and Canada
The black-capped chickadee is by far the most common and the main species referred to in this article. But other species will sometimes use birdhouses too.
Size and Appearance
– Length: 5-6 inches
– Wingspan: 7-9 inches
– Plump, large-headed birds with short necks and tails
– Black cap and throat, white cheeks, buff-colored flanks
Habitat
Chickadees live in a variety of wooded habitats across North America, including:
– Deciduous forests
– Mixed forests
– Open woodlands
– Parks and residential areas with trees
– Riparian corridors along streams
They especially thrive in edge habitats with a mix of dense woods and open clearings.
Food
Chickadees are omnivorous and eat a wide variety of foods:
– Seeds (e.g. from birch, elm, hemlock, hawthorn)
– Berries (e.g. dogwood, elderberry, sumac)
– Insects (caterpillars, spiders, beetles)
– Other invertebrates (snails, millipedes)
– Eggs and young of other birds
In winter, black oil sunflower seeds are a staple food at bird feeders.
Behavior
– Acrobatic – chickadees can hang upside down and hover while foraging
– Curious and fearless
– Social – flocks in winter; loose breeding pairs in summer
– Territorial; defend areas around nest sites
– Caching food to retrieve later
– Mobbing potential predators through group harassment
Breeding
– Nest in cavities in decaying wood, nest boxes, fallen logs
– 5-9 white eggs with brown speckles
– Female incubates eggs for 12-13 days
– Young fledge nest at 16-18 days old
– May have 2 broods per year from April-July
Choosing a Chickadee Birdhouse
Chickadees aren’t too picky when it comes to birdhouses. They will readily accept nest boxes of varying styles, materials, and dimensions. But following some basic guidelines will increase your odds of attracting chickadees specifically.
House Dimensions
Chickadees prefer a smaller cavity than many other backyard birds. Good dimensions for a chickadee house are:
– Floor: 4 x 4 inches (minimum 3 x 3 inches)
– Depth: 8 – 10 inches
– Height: 8 – 12 inches
– Entrance hole: 1 1/8 – 1 1/4 inches
The small entrance hole excludes larger birds like starlings.
Materials
Chickadees will use birdhouses made from various materials, including:
– Wood – cedar, pine, fir, etc.
– Recycled wood – driftwood, scrap wood
– Plastic
– Concrete
– Metal
Wood is best for insulation. Avoid treated lumber, which may contain chemicals. Place a metal guard below entrance to deter squirrels and predators.
Design Tips
– Simple box or platform design
– Extended sloped roof to shade entrance
– Rough interior wood for easy climbing
– Front panel that opens for cleaning
– Drainage holes in floor
– Ventilation holes near peak of roof
– No perch needed
Avoid elaborate decorative houses, which chickadees may avoid.
Predator Guards
Chickadees are vulnerable to predators like raccoons, cats, and snakes. Guard against predators by:
– Installing house on a metal pole with predator guard
– Using a plastic or metal guard below entrance hole
– Locating house away from trees, fence posts, etc. that give access
Where to Place Your Chickadee House
Proper placement of your chickadee birdhouse is key to making the birds feel safe and secure. Here are some tips on where to install your chickadee home:
Height
Mount your chickadee house 5-15 feet high off the ground. Chickadees prefer higher nest sites away from terrestrial predators.
Tree Placement
Chickadees usually nest in edge habitat near both woods and open areas. Good spots are:
– On a tree at the edge of a woodlot
– Near, but not directly under, a canopy tree
– In a solitary tree in a field or yard
Avoid deep forest interiors. Face entrance away from prevailing winds.
Pole Placement
If mounting house on a pole, site it:
– At least 3 feet from any structure, fence or tree
– Within 15 feet of trees or shrubs for escape cover
– Where you can see the entrance for monitoring
Direction
Install your chickadee house with the entrance hole facing:
– South – warmest orientation
– Southeast – warms in morning sun
– Northeast – avoids overheating
Avoid facing west where hot afternoon sun can cook the nest.
When to Put Up Your Birdhouse
Timing is important when installing nest boxes. Follow these tips on when to place your chickadee house:
Winter
It’s best to install chickadee boxes in late winter, before breeding season gets underway. Chickadees will start prospecting for nest sites in winter and early spring. Getting your house up early increases its chance of use.
Early Spring
You can still put up houses through early spring. But do so before nest construction begins in April.
Mid-Late Spring
Avoid installing boxes once chickadees start nesting in spring, typically around April/May. This can disturb their breeding.
Other Seasons
Leave nest boxes up year round. Chickadees may use them as winter shelter. Clean out old nests after young fledge in late summer.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Yard
In addition to properly installing chickadee nest boxes, you can further entice these birds by making your yard attractive to them overall. Here are some tips:
Landscaping Tips
Chickadees prefer habitats with a mix of dense cover and open space.
– Plant a diversity of native trees and shrubs, like oak, birch, spruce, juniper, dogwood, sumac
– Leave dead snags standing for foraging sites
– Allow leaf litter to accumulate on forest floor
– Grow berry-producing plants like holly, elderberry, viburnum
Food Provisioning
– Black oil sunflower seeds
– Suet mixes with nuts, berries
– Nyjer thistle
– Peanut kernels
Offer these foods in hopper or tube feeders at intermediate heights from 5-10 feet up. Use feeders with weight-sensitive perches to prevent bigger birds from hogging.
Nesting Materials
Supplying natural nesting materials can further attract breeding chickadees. Offer:
– Pet hair, fur, wool
– Shredded paper
– Dry grasses and moss
– Cotton batting
– Fine twigs and bark strips
Place these items in mesh bags or natural fiber nesting material holders.
Water
Chickadees get much of their water needs from food. But they will visit shallow bird baths for drinking and bathing. Choose baths with:
– Shallow basin 1-3 inches deep
– Textured bottom for grip
– Water fountain/dripper
– Nearby perches
– Heater or bubbler to prevent freezing
Position baths near trees or shrubs to provide quick escape cover.
Shelter
Chickadees appreciate brush piles, evergreens, and roost boxes that provide shelter from the elements.
Monitoring and Maintaining Your Chickadee House
Check your chickadee birdhouse periodically to ensure suitable conditions and monitor any nesting activity:
Cold Weather
Chickadees may roost in boxes overnight in winter for warmth. Don’t disturb them.
Early Spring
Watch for signs of exploration like excavated wood shavings around the hole as they start seeking nest sites.
Nest Building
Chickadees often line nests with moss and fur. Peeking inside when birds aren’t present reveals progress.
Egg Laying
Don’t disturb once eggs are laid. Chickadees will abandon nest. Monitor from afar instead.
Nestlings
Listen for begging calls to avoid peeking in while parents are actively feeding.
Fledging
Young leave the nest at 16-18 days old. Don’t interfere with this risky transition stage.
Post-Nesting
Once young fully fledge, remove old nest material to prepare for future nesting seasons.
Cleaning
Clean out your chickadee house each fall. Gently scrub interior and check for repairs needed. Avoid harsh chemicals.
Maintenance
Periodically check exterior and roof for damage. Refasten any loose hardware. Apply fresh preservative or paint as needed.
Dealing With Problems
Chickadee nests don’t always go smoothly. Here are some common problems and solutions:
Non-Target Species
Larger aggressive birds like starlings may harass or evict chickadees. Discourage them by:
– Using small 1 1/8 inch entrance hole
– Hanging monofilament line around box
– Coating interiors with slippery paste
– Trapping/removing offending birds
Predators
Guard against predators like raccoons, cats, and snakes by:
– Installing predator guards below hole
– Using householder pole with baffle
– Applying insect-repelling chemicals
– Trapping persistent predators
Parasitism
Brown-headed cowbirds may lay eggs in chickadee nests. Remove cowbird eggs promptly. Identify them by:
– Larger size than chickadee eggs
– Speckled rather than uniform white
Disease
Prevent disease by:
– Keeping area around house clean
– Promptly removing old nesting material
– Disinfecting with diluted bleach or peroxide
See a vet if diseased birds are observed.
Abandonment
Chickadees may abandon nests if excessively disturbed. Minimize disturbances and the birds will usually return.
Enjoying Your Chickadees
Once you succeed in attracting a pair of chickadees, sit back and enjoy observing these special birds raise their young. Here are some of the joys of hosting chickadees:
Songs and Calls
Listen for the chickadee’s cheerful ‘chick-a-dee-dee’ song and whistled ‘fee-bee’ calls.
Interesting Behaviors
Watch chickadees flit through trees, hang upside down to eat, and scold potential threats.
Raising Young
Marvel at the dedication chickadee parents show feeding their chicks hundreds of times daily.
Backyard Animation
Chickadees provide endless entertainment and excitement for any backyard observer.
Beauty
Admire chickadees’ handsome black and white plumage and endearingly large heads.
Photography
Photograph the charming details of chickadees going about their daily business.
The delights of hosting chickadees are many. Follow the guidance in this article, and you’ll be rewarded with up close views of these lovable backyard birds. Let us know if you have any other tips for attracting chickadees!
Conclusion
Attracting beautiful, lively chickadees to your yard is easily done with proper birdhouses and habitat management. Place small birdhouses suited to chickadees’ preferences 5-15 feet up on habitat edges before breeding season. Make your property inviting to chickadees by landscaping with native plants and supplying chickadee-friendly foods and nesting materials. Monitor boxes carefully and guard against predators and nest disturbances. Do this, and you’ll soon enjoy hosting your own chickadee family! Chickadees light up any garden with their perky presence, and getting to watch them raise young in your own yard is a profoundly rewarding experience. Follow this guide to chickadee houses, and these feathered friends will bring you enjoyment all year round.