Black-Capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus

These birds are nonmigratory. Their expected range stretches over much of North America, from central and southern Alaska, across the southern half of Canada to the Atlantic coast. The southern end of their range is from Oregon, Idaho, northern Utah, Colorado, and across the Great Plains through the Ohio Valley, the Appalachians, and New England. The maps I reviewed showed northern New Mexico as the southern limit of their range, but I met them on several occasions along the Rio Grande near Albuquerque.
Similar to other members of the chickadee clan, the Black-Capped Chickadee’s plaintiff “Hey Sweetie” song is a fond reminder of the woodlands they love. Well known and beloved for their bold nature and curiosity, many people have tempted these cute little bundles of energy to take food from their hands.
Science recognises seven subspecies of Black-Capped Chickadee:
- P. a. bartletti lives in Canada’s Maritime Provinces.
- P. a. atricapillus lives from southeastern Manitoba through central Quebec to Maritime Provinces and south to central Kansas and Missouri, to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and south along Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina.
- P. a. septentrionalis lives from southern Yukon (Canada) and through most of British Columbia east to central Manitoba, and eastern slopes of the Cascades, to southern Oregon, central Idaho, northern Montana, and south, east of the Rocky Mountains, to central Colorado and Kansas.
- P. a. garrinus lives in the Rocky Mountain region from central Idaho, and south-central Montana south to southern Utah and northern New Mexico.
- P. a. nevadensis lives in the Great Basin from southeastern Oregon and southern Idaho, and south to northern Nevada.
- P. a. occidentalis lives on the Pacific slope of British Columbia to northern California.
- P. a. turneri lives in south-central Alaska.
Chickadees in my southern California home range are Mountain Chickadees. In my travels, I’ve found pleasure in the company of Black-Capped Chickadees on the coasts of northern California and Oregon, in Canada, Ohio, Kansas, New Mexico, Montana, and Wyoming. My first meeting with the Black-Capped Chickadee was in Jackson Wyoming at the Photography at the Summit seminar in 2001. The image I captured on film helped persuade me to pursue bird photography seriously.
39 Photos

Black-capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: Charlie Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:09 14:19 |
Location:
Charlie Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 490 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD3945BlackCappedChickadee |
© 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: This meeting took place while I was attending the "Photography At The Summit" seminar in Jackson Wyoming in November 2001. |
Date Taken: 2001:11:09 9:21 |
Location:
Visitor Center |
Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A1J09b03-BlackCappedChickadee |
© 2001 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: As seen from Skyline Drive outside of Pine Cove Wyoming. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:14 9:22 |
Location:
Skyline Drive |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X2354-BlackCappedChickadee |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: A confiding bird in my friend's yard in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:25 8:12 |
Location:
Bitterroot Court |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X4395-BlackCappedChickadee |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: A confiding bird in my friend's yard in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:25 8:17 |
Location:
Bitterroot Court |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X4418-BlackCappedChickadee |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: Tuesday at 10,600’ the chickadees I met were Mountain Chickadees. Now Wednesday, at 4900’ it was Black-Capped Chickadees. The Rio Grande Nature Center is one of my favorite locations to visit when I’m in Albuquerque. This was my first winter visit, and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:17 12:56 |
Location:
Rio Grande Nature Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_D5X8157-RioGrandeNatureCenter-ABQ |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: Tuesday at 10,600’ the chickadees I met were Mountain Chickadees. Now Wednesday, at 4900’ it was Black-Capped Chickadees. The Rio Grande Nature Center is one of my favorite locations to visit when I’m in Albuquerque. This was my first winter visit, and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:17 12:18 |
Location:
Rio Grande Nature Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_D5X7992-RioGrandeNatureCenter-ABQ |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: Tuesday at 10,600’ the chickadees I met were Mountain Chickadees. Now Wednesday, at 4900’ it was Black-Capped Chickadees. The Rio Grande Nature Center is one of my favorite locations to visit when I’m in Albuquerque. This was my first winter visit, and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:17 12:11 |
Location:
Rio Grande Nature Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_D5X7953-RioGrandeNatureCenter-ABQ |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: On Friday, my friend Jerry and I visited the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico is called a bosque. Mountain Chickadees were among the birds we met along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:15 12:03 |
Location:
Tingley Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_D507768-TingleyBeach-ABQ |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: On Friday, my friend Jerry and I visited the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico is called a bosque. Mountain Chickadees were among the birds we met along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:15 11:57 |
Location:
Tingley Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_D507739-TingleyBeach-ABQ |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I met these birds in Crescent City California near the lighthouse for the harbor, where they were feasting on aphids. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:11 10:11 |
Location:
Battery Point |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_D5X1804-CrescentCity |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I met these birds in Crescent City California near the lighthouse for the harbor. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:11 9:57 |
Location:
Battery Point |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_D5X1783-CrescentCity |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: Roadside stop at Sisters Rocks, north of Ophir Oregon to the side of US-101. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:08 15:14 |
Location:
Sisters Rocks |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_D5X0174-Ophir-Oregon |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I stopped briefly at the Sutton Lake Boat Ramp on my trip north along the Pacific coast. There, I met a pair of curious Black-Capped Chickadees. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:02 14:30 |
Location:
Sutton Lake Boat Ramp |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8500063-SuttonLake |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I stopped briefly at the Sutton Lake Boat Ramp on my trip north along the Pacific coast. There, I met a pair of curious Black-Capped Chickadees. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:02 14:32 |
Location:
Sutton Lake Boat Ramp |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8500091-SuttonLake |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I stopped briefly at the Sutton Lake Boat Ramp on my trip north along the Pacific coast. There, I met a pair of curious Black-Capped Chickadees. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:02 14:34 |
Location:
Sutton Lake Boat Ramp |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8500104-SuttonLake |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: My second visit to the fields north of Burns Oregon began in the early morning. I tried my best to capture birds like this chickadee on the west side of the road, because of the lovely light from the rising sun. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:24 7:56 |
Location:
North Foley Drive |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8504205-BurnsOregon |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: During my hike around the Beaver Boardwalk in Hinton Alberta, a Black-Capped Chickadee treated me to a willow feeding frenzy. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:26 12:05 |
Location:
Beaver Boardwalk |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8503152-Hinton.AB-BeaverBoardwalk |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: During my hike around the Beaver Boardwalk in Hinton Alberta, a Black-Capped Chickadee treated me to a willow feeding frenzy. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:26 12:06 |
Location:
Beaver Boardwalk |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8503223-Hinton.AB-BeaverBoardwalk |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: During my hike around the Beaver Boardwalk in Hinton Alberta, a Black-Capped Chickadee treated me to a willow feeding frenzy. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:26 12:06 |
Location:
Beaver Boardwalk |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8503232-Hinton.AB-BeaverBoardwalk |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: After arriving from a long drive at Slave Lake Alberta, I stopped at Northshore Beach on the way to my camp at Marten River Campground at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park. Most of the birds stay high in the canopy, but a few graced me with closer looks. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:27 12:04 |
Location:
Northshore Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8503631-LesserSlaveLake.NorthShoreBeach |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: After arriving from a long drive at Slave Lake Alberta, I stopped at Northshore Beach on the way to my camp at Marten River Campground at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park. Most of the birds stay high in the canopy, but a few graced me with closer looks. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:27 12:05 |
Location:
Northshore Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8503638-LesserSlaveLake.NorthShoreBeach |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I used my second day of clear weather to return to McIntyre Marsh, northwest of Whitehorse. I enjoyed the company of birds there, such as the Black-Capped Chickadee. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:16 12:50 |
Location:
McIntyre Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8500743-McIntyreMarsh.YK_ |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I met Black-Capped Chickadees at Taylor Landing. It was good practice to compare their songs with the similar sounding White-Throated Sparrows. I fell in love with the Boreal Forest that lined the Peace River next to the Alaska Highway during my north-bound journey a month earlier. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:28 9:40 |
Location:
Taylor Landing |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8505636-TaylorLanding.BC_ |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: Black-Capped Chickadees greeted me during my visits to McQueen Slough, which is only a few miles from Dawson Creek in British Columbia. It became a favorite birding location during my stay. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:29 12:34 |
Location:
McQueen Slough |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8506054-McQueenSlough.BC_ |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: Black-Capped Chickadees greeted me during my visits to McQueen Slough, which is only a few miles from Dawson Creek in British Columbia. It became a favorite birding location during my stay. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:29 12:39 |
Location:
McQueen Slough |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8506126-McQueenSlough.BC_ |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: Black-Capped Chickadees greeted me during my visits to McQueen Slough, which is only a few miles from Dawson Creek in British Columbia. It became a favorite birding location during my stay. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:29 12:39 |
Location:
McQueen Slough |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8506138-McQueenSlough.BC_ |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: The Boreal Center for Bird Conservation at the edge of Lesser Slave Lake is one of my favorite places in Canada for meeting spring warblers. Chickadees were nice to see too. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:06 11:49 |
Location:
Boreal Centre For Bird Conservat |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8509810-LesserSlaveLake.BorealBirdCentre |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: The Boreal Center for Bird Conservation at the edge of Lesser Slave Lake is one of my favorite places in Canada for meeting spring warblers. Chickadees were nice to see too. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:06 11:49 |
Location:
Boreal Centre For Bird Conservat |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8509820-LesserSlaveLake.BorealBirdCentre |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: My friends in Herington Kansas bought an old farm, where I enjoyed a few hours chasing birds. Chickadees were among the feathered community I met. |
Date Taken: 2022:08:10 19:13 |
Location:
Shady Brook |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8503333-HeringtonFarm |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: My friends in Herington Kansas bought an old farm, where I enjoyed a few hours chasing birds. Chickadees were among the feathered community I met. |
Date Taken: 2022:08:10 19:13 |
Location:
Shady Brook |
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_8503339-HeringtonFarm |
© 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I jumped at the opportunity when I was invited to visit my friend Judy’s cabin near the shore of Georgian Bay at Lake Huron. I filled the bird feeders when I arrived, and two days later, the local birds discovered the seeds and suit, and I captured all the images I could. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:18 13:32 |
Location:
Wahnekewaning Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_Z9X5669_TinyBeachesCottage-Ont-CA |
© 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I spent a week visiting friends in Linwood Kansas, and spent parts of several days chasing yardbirds. Those I met were rather shy, and resisted posing for my camera, but I captured what I could. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:17 8:15 |
Location:
Fall Leaf |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_ZX94296_Linwood-KS |
© 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I spent a week visiting friends in Linwood Kansas, and spent parts of several days chasing yardbirds. Those I met were rather shy, and resisted posing for my camera, but I captured what I could. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:17 8:15 |
Location:
Fall Leaf |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_ZX94234_Linwood-KS |
© 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I spent a week visiting friends in Linwood Kansas, and spent parts of several days chasing yardbirds. Those I met were rather shy, and resisted posing for my camera, but I captured what I could. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:17 8:15 |
Location:
Fall Leaf |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_ZX94220_Linwood-KS |
© 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I jumped at the opportunity when I was invited to visit my friend Judy’s cabin near the shore of Georgian Bay at Lake Huron. I filled the bird feeders when I arrived, and two days later, the local birds discovered the seeds and suit, and I captured all the images I could. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:18 13:50 |
Location:
Wahnekewaning Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_Z9X6261_TinyBeachesCottage-Ont-CA |
© 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: I jumped at the opportunity when I was invited to visit my friend Judy’s cabin near the shore of Georgian Bay at Lake Huron. I filled the bird feeders when I arrived, and two days later, the local birds discovered the seeds and suit, and I captured all the images I could. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:18 14:02 |
Location:
Wahnekewaning Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_Z9X6438_TinyBeachesCottage-Ont-CA |
© 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: During my three-day visit with friends in Dayton Ohio, I split my time with the local birds between backyard feeders and a local arboretum. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:05 11:44 |
Location:
Cox Arboretum |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_ZX90997_SouthDayton-OH |
© 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus) |
Description: After my first visit to Wye Marsh in Midland Ontario four days earlier, I felt there were more species I wanted to meet. I returned Monday morning, and I tried to collect images of the birds I missed before. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:22 12:15 |
Location:
Wye Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackCappedChickadee_Z9X9340_WyeMarsh-Midland-Ont-CA |
© 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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