Chickadee soars

8 November 2009 18 Comments Home » Birds

A feisty black-capped chickadee soars through
my backyard, competing with the other songbirds.
 

These bouncy acrobats are gone almost before I see
them.
 

Males and females look very similar. If they don’t eat enough
during the short winter days, they have problems
lasting through the cold nights.

A feisty black-capped chickadee soars

18 Comments »

  • Karen said:

    This is a delightful photo. I like the aerial attitude of the Chickadee as it spreads its wings in flight. Such a short chubby little one. The soft colors in this image add appeal.

    # 8 November 2009 at 6:35 pm
  • Rick said:

    Thanks Karen. I’m sure chickadee’s are one of the cutest birds.

    So fast, I’m really happy when I can capture them in flight like this.

    # 8 November 2009 at 6:49 pm
  • Sylvia said:

    Beautiful pic! They hang out in two spruces along my side yard in view of the feeders (I have a corner lot) & seem to be the most skittish of all the songbirds who eat here.

    # 8 November 2009 at 6:52 pm
  • Rick said:

    Thanks Sylvia. You’re right, incredibly skittish, along with the nuthatches.

    # 8 November 2009 at 6:57 pm
  • Pete Rogan said:

    Chickadees are also intensely competitive about food. If you feed them this winter, don’t be dismayed at some of the disputes. In common with the amoeba, pound for pound chickadees are among the most fearsome creatures on Earth.

    # 8 November 2009 at 8:45 pm
  • Rick said:

    Wonderful, Pete, comparing chickadees and amoebas.

    How fierce the result if we combined the two?

    # 8 November 2009 at 9:14 pm
  • Denice Brown said:

    Time to set out the black oil sunflower seeds for the little fellows.

    # 9 November 2009 at 10:31 am
  • Rick said:

    They get plenty of black oil sunflower seeds, Denice.

    They often wait till the sparrows and finches are done.

    # 9 November 2009 at 10:32 am
  • Michael Sinclair said:

    We started filling up our feeders last week with black oil sunflower seeds.

    Wishbone stood guard to keep the squirrels at bay.

    # 9 November 2009 at 10:54 am
  • Rick said:

    I mostly use black oil sunflower seeds, and also suet, Michael.

    # 9 November 2009 at 10:55 am
  • Michael Sinclair said:

    When it gets a bit colder we will put out the suet.

    # 9 November 2009 at 11:00 am
  • Denice Brown said:

    MMmmmmmm, suet!

    # 9 November 2009 at 11:32 am
  • Amy said:

    They are also partial to peanut butter (known as “chickadee food” in my house – ugh I can’t stand it!), on the coldest days of the year. I pick up ponderosa pinecones on trips to BC, and they make wonderful peanut butter delivery tools for the birds. Thanks so much for sharing Rick!

    # 9 November 2009 at 12:26 pm
  • Rick said:

    Thanks for the pine cone idea, Amy. We planted one in the backyard years ago, and it’s now producing cones.

    # 9 November 2009 at 1:02 pm
  • jason said:

    Delightful photo! Chickadees (like titmice and kinglets) are boundless
    little bodies full of energy and chitchat.

    I adore them – and this photo captures that energetic presence quite nicely!

    # 9 November 2009 at 1:53 pm
  • Rick said:

    Thanks Jason, I wish I could make more, but they are sooooo fast, and I’m really only interested in flight images.

    I did get a nice image a few days ago.

    # 9 November 2009 at 3:30 pm
  • Rich Leighton said:

    Simply beautiful and inspiring, as always!

    # 9 November 2009 at 7:58 pm
  • Rick said:

    Thanks Rich, but not hard with a subject this exquisite.

    # 9 November 2009 at 9:05 pm

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