Chickadees are cute, energetic little birds that can be found across much of North America. With their tiny size, big round heads, and inquisitive nature, it’s no wonder many people wonder if they can form a bond with these backyard birds. So can you actually befriend a chickadee? Let’s take a closer look.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about befriending chickadees:
- Yes, you can form bonds and interact with chickadees, especially if you put in some effort to get to know them.
- Chickadees are intelligent, social birds that can recognize individual people.
- Offering food is the best way to get chickadees to associate you with positive experiences.
- With time and patience, chickadees may eat from your hand or even perch on you.
- Make sure not to chase or grab chickadees, as this can break trust.
- Having chickadee nest boxes or feeders in your yard is a great way to attract and interact with these birds.
Chickadee Behavior and Intelligence
Chickadees are members of the tit family Paridae. They are small songbirds, usually measuring between 4.7-6.3 inches in length and weighing about 0.39 ounces. In North America, the most widespread chickadee species are the black-capped chickadee and Carolina chickadee.
Despite their tiny bodies, chickadees have huge personalities! They are very active and social birds that use a complex system of vocalizations to communicate with flock members. Chickadees also have an excellent spatial memory to help them relocate caches of food. Their brains are able to produce new neurons throughout adulthood, allowing their brains to constantly remake connections and learn new things.
Scientists have found that chickadees have the ability to solve complex puzzles and tasks. They can learn to manipulate objects and solve problems to obtain food rewards, on par with some primates. Chickadees even show evidence of social learning, observing each other to pick up new skills.
Forming Positive Associations
The key to befriending chickadees is forming positive associations. Chickadees have the ability to recognize individual people, especially those who have previously given them food or other rewards. Each time you provide food, water, nesting sites or other resources to chickadees in a non-threatening way, they will come to see you as a friend.
The most effective way to get chickadees to associate you with good things is by consistently offering treats. Black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite of chickadees. You can scatter them on the ground, offer them in tray feeders at head level, or hold them in your hand. With time, the chickadees will become accustomed to searching you out for the tasty seeds.
Tips for Hand-Feeding Chickadees
- Move slowly and speak softly to avoid startling birds.
- Stand still in an open area so birds can land easily.
- Extend your hand slowly with a few seeds resting in your palm.
- Let the chickadees eat from your hand, resisting the urge to grab at them.
- Increase how close you hold your hand to your body over many feeding sessions.
Hand-feeding is an amazing way to interact with chickadees. But it requires patience, stillness, and a calm demeanor. Let the chickadees make all the moves, never chasing after them or forcing an interaction.
Backyard Improvements
In addition to offering tasty treats, you can make your backyard more chickadee friendly. Providing food, shelter, water and nesting sites will encourage chickadees to frequent your property. Here are some simple ways to attract chickadees to your yard:
- Set up black oil sunflower feeders.
- Include suet feeders with nut blends.
- Offer mealworms on platform feeders.
- Plant native trees and shrubs like oak, birch, and dogwood.
- Install a birdbath for drinking and bathing.
- Put up nest boxes specific to chickadee dimensions.
Having these chickadee resources consistently available in your yard will bring more birds in and give you more opportunities to observe and interact with them.
Signs of Success
How do you know if your efforts to befriend chickadees are working? Here are some behaviors that indicate you are making progress:
- Chickadees regularly visit your yard and feeders.
- They watch you from nearby perches.
- They approach while you refill feeders or work in the yard.
- They take seeds from your hand.
- Chickadees nest in boxes you provide.
- They vocalize excitedly when you appear.
- The birds allow you to approach closer than before.
With time and consistency, chickadees will come to see your presence as an opportunity for positive experiences instead of a threat. If chickadees freely land on you or eat from your hand, you can be sure they now consider you a friend!
Potential Challenges
Befriending chickadees takes time and patience. Here are some potential challenges you may encounter:
They lose interest
Chickadees have short attention spans. Make interactions brief and engaging. Offering treats helps keep their interest.
New birds arrive
As seasons and flocks change, new chickadees may not know you. You need to continually make positive impressions.
They get startled
Loud noises, sudden movements, or grabbing at chickadees can scare them off. Move calmly and let birds instigate contact.
Nesting season ends
Chickadees are less territorial and engage in flocking behavior outside the spring nesting season. Keep feeders full to maintain contact.
The key is being consistent, predictable, and patient. Don’t force interactions. With time, chickadees will become comfortable with your presence.
Safety and Ethics
When attempting to interact with chickadees, keep these safety and ethics tips in mind:
- Never grab or restrain birds.
- Avoid sudden movements that can startle them.
- Don’t impede their normal activities and routines.
- Prevent window collisions with decals or screens.
- Make sure feeders and birdhouses are safe and clean.
- Reporting signs of disease helps biologists track threats.
- Maintain healthy habitat by planting native species.
With appropriate precautions, befriending backyard chickadees can be enjoyable for both you and the birds!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to tame a chickadee?
It depends on the individual bird and your effort, but most people start to see progress within 2-4 weeks of consistent positive interactions with the same chickadees.
What time of year is best?
Late fall and winter is optimal since chickadees form larger mixed flocks and are more likely to visit feeders. But you can start forming bonds anytime.
Can other birds become tame too?
Yes, the principles of positive reinforcement through food can work with many backyard birds like titmice, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and even cardinals.
Do chickadees make good pets?
No, chickadees are wild animals unsuited to life confined as pets. But befriending the chickadees naturally visiting your yard provides enjoyable interactions.
Will feeding chickadees make them dependent?
No, chickadees still find most of their food naturally. But supplemental feeding does help them survive harsh winters and nesting seasons.
Conclusion
Befriending backyard chickadees takes time and patience, but the reward is priceless. By making positive associations with you through food, habitat improvements, and gentle interactions, chickadees can become comfortable around you. Always let the birds come to you and move at their pace. With persistence, you may get to enjoy hand-feeding chickadees or even having them perch on you!
Chickadee Species | Range | Length | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Black-capped Chickadee | Alaska and Canada to mid-U.S. | 5.5 inches | Namesake black cap and throat, white cheeks, gray back |
Carolina Chickadee | Southeastern U.S. | 4.75 inches | Gray cap and back, white cheeks and belly |
Mountain Chickadee | Western North America | 5.5 inches | Black cap and throat, white cheeks, gray back |