Our Black Capped Chickadee

Winter is slowly changing into Spring. And while our snow depths have been close to traditional, we had the coldest February in decades. 

Being an avid bird feeder, I wondered why the tiny Black Capped Chickadee consistently survives at nightly temperatures well below 0 degC. 

Since we had almost twenty chickadees at our feeders over the winter, I decided to do some research.

I knew that they had the ability to lower their body temperatures at nights to save energy, but I had no idea about what else they could do. 

Each Fall, the birds change their feathers, replacing the summer ones with ones that allow them to have a centimeter of insulation that can create a 50 degC difference between their skin and the outer surface of their feathers.

They also have special winter feeding habits. I’ve noticed that they feed heavily just before roosting and again at dawn. That’s because a very cold winter night can deplete most of their fat reserves since they keep warm by forcing themselves to shiver. No wonder they like bird feed rich in oils for fuel!

They tend to feed in flocks throughout the winter, sometimes caching seeds for later use. They actually have the ability to remember where they place their seeds since they can enlarge the memory portion of their brain. The flocks also enable more of them to feed at once while a few other birds watch for predators.

Roosting in dense coniferous trees or tree cavities with other chickadees is another trick that protects them from the cold. 

Our Black Capped Chickadee is truly a wonder of nature. A tiny little bird that has the capability to survive cold winter nights without walls, a roof, and a furnace!

I owe credit to my fellow birders in "The Friends of Algonquin" for some of this excellent information gleaned from “The Raven” digest.