Black-capped Chickadee Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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Alberta, February 23, 1977Recorded by William W. H. Gunn | Macaulay Library
Song and calls
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Alberta, February 23, 1977Recorded by William W. H. Gunn | Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, July 09, 1988Recorded by Gregory Budney | Macaulay Library
Calls
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Utah, July 20, 1990Recorded by Kevin J. Colver | Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, November 23, 2014Recorded by Jay McGowan | Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, April 14, 2016Recorded by Jay McGowan | Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

In most of North America, the song is a simple, pure 2 or 3-note whistled fee-bee or hey, sweetie. In the Pacific Northwest, the song is 3 or 4 notes on the same pitch; the song is also different on Martha's Vineyard in MA. In much of the range, males begin singing in mid-January, and the song increases in frequency as winter progresses. Females also sing occasionally.

Calls

Chickadees make their chickadee-dee-dee call using increasing numbers of dee notes when they are alarmed. They also have a gargling call, often given aggressively when a lower-ranking bird gets close to a higher-ranking one; also exchanged between members of a pair. Black-capped Chickadees make a high pitched see as a high-intensity alarm call, often when a fast-approaching predator is detected. When chickadees hear this call, they freeze in position until they hear a chickadee-dee call signifying “all clear.” High see calls most often given by males.