Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
The Black-capped Chickadee is one of North America's most common and widely distributed birds. It can be found from coast to coast, covering a significant portion of Canada and the northern two-thirds of the United States. These birds don't typically migrate; they stay in their range throughout the year. The vocal behavior of Black-capped Chickadees is complex, which would be expected of a social animal. Adults have at least 16 different kinds of vocalizations.
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Dictionary of
Black-capped Chickadee Sounds
To get a sense of the various sounds black-capped chickadees make, play the below recording and you will hear at least thirteen different types of sounds, or what humans think of as syllables, concatenated together from various birds during 2020-2022 just north of Yellowstone National Park. Below that is a list of individual calls and their basic function. However, what a chickadee hears, and therefore interprets, is not necessarily what we hear.
Scroll down to see a categorized list of recorded vocalizations (sounds), loosely ranked in order of most common to least common. The primary purpose is to give you a sense of how to differentiate sounds a chickadee commonly makes, but secondarily to introduce you to some of the functions/meanings (i.e. "semantics") of those sounds in real-world communicative events. A name (sticking to Peterson's guide wherever possible) is given to the sound; then a brief description; then a spectogram playback of the sound from Macaulay's library; and when possible a video of the circumstances and context where the sound was produced.
These are the classic "syllables" that make up a chick-a (a/b/c) dee (d) call, the familiar sound they make that gives them their name. These syllables (designated A, B, C, D) can be used separately, or combined together (with or without all syllables), but are always used in this order. Other parids (birds in the same genus) use similar and different syllables, in what might be loosely called a "dialect", though it is important to remember that even though one species may use a similar sounding syllable, it may function differently.
These "sounds" (or syllables) could be encoding the human equivalent of phonemes (sounds without meaning when used seperately), morphemes (sounds with meaning but never used on their own), words, phrases, or actual sentences. We don't always know. Inside each "sound" could be signals that only chickadees know how to interpret. For example, an english speaker may understand how to break apart "IMADEHERDUCK" in to the various meaningful parts, even though it looks like one word. We don't yet know where all of the individual phonemes (i.e. sounds without meaning) actually fit in to bird vocalizations, but current research suggests that they do not perceive sequences of sounds exactly like the human brain does. We can, however, use playbacks of these sounds to actual birds (and watch how they react) to understand the "gist" of the meaning behind these sound sequences. "Alarm" calls are some of the easiest for us humans to understand. But, there might be more going on in an alarm call than we know; for example, changes in pitch, temporal resolution, and amplitude/loudness may carry meaning beyond the "alarm" (e.g. This is Joe sending an alarm call). Or, is the "dee" (D) note simply a homonym (a word with the same sound but different meanings depending on context, such as "meat" vs "meet"). One thing is for sure, there is a lot left to learn (e.g. how do bird brains tune in to the pitch, loudness and duration of the signal to identify a sound and then map it meaning) and much that we may never understand. Below are just some of the various "sound signals" that chickadees send to one another, and that other species listen to, in order to both change the behavior of others or denote changes in their own behavior.
"Chick-a-dee" Phrase
The sound that gave it its name: chick-a-dee. The "chick-a-dee" phrase is learned, and comes in many variations and is often used for alarming, contacting between mates, identifying their social group vs others, and mobilizing members of winter flocks. A, B, C and D syllables (though technically they might be called "morpheme" or "words" instead of "syllables") can be used (all or partially as A-B-D example on the second right), but with strict "word order") to produce the "chick-a-dee" call. A, B, C syllables can vary significantly between birds. Frequency, duration and loudest frequency have the most variance between calls. On average, A notes start at 5700 Hz, B notes start at 3300 Hz, and C notes start at 1700 Hz. Considering that birds can discriminate as little as a 1% change in frequency (and only 10-20% change in duration), and that the average SF (starting frequency) is non-overlapping between note types, then both starting frequency and ending frequency features should facilitate discrimination between A, B, C syllables. The most common syntactical are A-D and B-C-D (though individuals don't always discriminate between A and D syllables). The D syllables (the most common) can vary in length, pause between each syllable, amplitude and even in the rising and falling frequency of each syllable. It is often considered a "general" recruitment call, for both food sources and threats. Although the classic definition of a "chick-a-dee" call includes A, B, C and D syllables, it is less common to find them all together. And it is still unclear what meaning each unit may provide to the overall "phrase" or "sentence". Interestingly, however, the number of distinct combinations increases with sample size...a trait true of human languages as well. D syllables may also be used on their own (as in the second example recording) and could encode identity by which a bird notifies to others who is making the call. Research suggests that social groups of chickadees have their own "signature" chick-a-dee call type (i.e. an accent or syntactical pattern), with the differences being within the syllables. Stronger research shows that population of origin can drive similarities in syntax and phonetics (i.e. a dialect). Regardless of what we still don't understand (which is a lot), it is clear that the chick-a-dee phrase is an open-ended one (i.e. not limited in potential variety other than actual "use" patterns - e.g. as the number of A, B, or C syllables increase in a given call, the number of D syllables tends to decrease. It is important to note that all sorts of contextual differences (e.g. hunger, hormones, season, gender, feeding behavior, social context, proximity of threat) could reflect variations in vocalizations. Further reading.
Comparison of a black-capped chickadee to a mountain chickadee call. The second call is from a mountain chickadee.
A-B-D "Chickadee" Phrase
A-B-D and A-D syllable versions of a chickadee call produced by one bird while another was "frozen" several feet away, in response to a sharp-shinned hawk nearby. Note the single, high frequency "zee" or "tseet" at the :10 second mark, which is often used when a predatory is around.
A-B-D "Chickadee" Phrase
A-B-D syllable versions of a chickadee call produced by birds in response to a dog with whom they are familar.
A-D "Chickadee" Phrase
A-D syllable versions of a "chickadee" phrase. The audio recording takes place when a human is hand feeding a wild nuthatch and the chickadee is nearby. The video is of a male giving a feebee call to a female near their nest (while delivering food to her); she isn't around and he gives one A-D call in response to a human nearby calling for a dog.
B-D "Chickadee" Phrase
B-D syllable versions of a chickadee call. Or, from the chickadee's perspective, are these the same as A-D sequences?
B-C-D and C-D "Chickadee" Phrase
B-C-D and C-D syllable versions of a chickadee call in response to a known dog that approached. As with D syllables, C syllables have been shown to be repeated as a means of emphasis in at least Carolina chickadees (e.g. when first finding a food source).
C-D "Chickadee" Phrase
C-D with irregular D note patterns in response to a shrike attack.
Rapid D "Chickadee" Mobbing Phrase
D syllables used in the typical fast, repetitive pattern when used to "mob" a predator (literally get in their "face), with occasional A syllable calls mixed in. In the first audio, a nuthatch, which has the louder "erp, erp" sound, is also alarming in concert with the chickadees. A lone solitaire was observing from a sentinel perch.
In the second audio recording, and the below video, chickadees are responding to a northern pygmy-owl, accompanied by house sparrows and a lone townsend's solitaire watching from the top of a cottonwood. In the last portion of the video, American tree sparrows, song sparrows and a downy woodpecker join in with background calls.
A-B-A Phrase
Sequence of A and B (with a possible tseet) syllables by a chickadee in response to a sharp-shinned hawk flying by. The A and B syllables used in a series like this may or may not really be different "phonemes" from a chickadee's perspective. They could simply be a series of the same "morpheme" with variation. These calls and similar series using C notes are often used in aggressive or "defensive" contexts (both with an element of "flight" not "fight" senses).
"A" Phrase (High Zee)
The A syllable can be used on its own it what is sometimes called a high zee syllable. It is similar in structure to the Tseet (contact call) except for the Tseet has a sudden ending whereas the A note "tails off" in frequency at the end. This series was from a chickadee in a bush watching a perched goshawk.
"A" Phrase from Juvenile
This call from a juvenile chickadee in response to a sudden fly-by of a starling looks similar in form to an A syllable, and seems to be functioning similar to what is referred to as a high zee syllable to indicate a threat.
"A" Phrase (Seet)
A series of A syllables, sometimes referred to as a seet series. These calls and similar series using C notes are often used in aggressive or "defensive" contexts (with an element of "flight" not "fight" connotation). Similar to the mobbing dee phrase, this repetitious use of A (and C) syllables could indicate emphasis or intensity of the situation.
Contact Calls Phrase
A series of contact calls (which look similar to an A syllable) and a gargle from a chickadee in response to a nuthatch during feeding. This would be a rare interaction and actually might have been a chickadee responding to another chickadee that was not seen during the interaction.
"C" Phrase
The "C" syllable is also often used alone in rapid succession when a bird is alarmed and/or flying away. These calls and similar series using A notes are often used in aggressive or "defensive" (both with an element of "flight" not "fight" senses). One way to perhaps understand A, C, and D syllables when put in a sequence is as the same general meaning but with different "words" (aka synonyms) which are used for reasons yet unknown (e.g. higher pitched A phrases for intra-species situations and C phrases for extra-species situations, and D phrases for extra-species situations where other chickadees are being solicited. In the same way a human might use "I'm mad at you" with a family member but "I despise you" typically with somewhat outside their social group.
Contact Call Phrase
Contact calls (sometimes called tseets or psips) are typically softer than other calls, so we may not have a full catalog of the sounds chickadees make when they are communicating at close contact, as in the below video adjacent audio recording of chickadees at a feeder. They can be used in all sorts of contexts, and look and sound similar to A notes but are used in isolation and typically with only one or two repetitions (which they might simply be a form of).
The below video (and recording to the right) is a rare call that a female chickadee made near her partner prior to laying eggs at a nest site. It may not be a contact call at all...we don't know what function it serves. Suffice it to say that the term "contact calls" is not very useful, since many calls chickadees make to one another serve some purpose of making other birds aware of their presence.
Feebee Phrase
Unlike many songbirds, the chickadee's song (mating and/or territorial call) is a short, uncomplicated set of notes...often called the "fee-bee" or "hey sweetie" song. In the Yellowstone area, black-capped chickadees typically have a two syllable "song", with the second syllable being a consistent down-shift in frequency. A bird may switch from a higher-frequency feebee to a lower-frequency version, and back again. The second syllable will sometimes have a noticeable pause. The first syllable will sometimes have a very short initial note at the beginning. Chickadees will often engage in song duals with one another. Females also use a feebee call, but are less studied. And, males will often use a "feebee" to announce their presence to the female, with food in mouth, at the nest. The acoustic structure of feebee phrases changes between season, with less variation in spring than in fall.
Feebee Phrase - Challenge
A "feebee" call given by a chickadee in spring while feeding on a seed. The final "feebee" call is given by another bird and the bird in the video leaves to inspect.
Feebee Phrase - by Female at Nest
A "feebee" call given by a female (banded) outside the nest while the male is with the brood in the nest. Chicks are giving a begging call in the background and then the father departs and female flies in to feed the chicks. Here is another feebee by a female who also uses the pitter call while at the nest and the male is inside. Some research suggests that "the frequency decrease within the fee note (i.e., fee glissando) varies between the songs produced by males and females and this suggests that the fee glissando may be used as a sex identifier." In the case of this recorded mating pair, the female feebee was almost always slightly above 4khz at its peak, whereas the male used two variations, one starting at 3.6khz and the other at 3.4khz.
Feebee Phrase - by Male at Nest
A "feebee" call given by a male outside the nest while the female is with the brood in the nest, perhaps as a way to indicate "friend" vs "foe", since chickadees can identify specific individuals by their feebee calls. When male approaches the nest, the female gives a "broken dee" call and accepts food.
Gargle Phrases
"Gargle" phrases are often used to establish dominance within social groups, typically by males. Each gargle can have multiple syllables and there can be multiple gargle types used by an individual. Social groups tend to share the same set of gargle types, and there are differences between groups. Here are two types of common gargle phrases, each one given by a separate bird directed at each other.
Gargle, A and C Phrases
"Gargle" phrases will often be used in combination with rapid fire A (and sometimes C) syllables.
"Broken Dee" Phrase
Broken Dees are given only by females during the breeding season, typically beginning with the completion of the nest cavity. They are given most frequently from that time through early incubation, when they gradually become less frequent, although they may still be given occasionally when the young are out of the nest. These calls are vaguely similar in sound to the begging calls of chicks in the nest.
"Cluck" Phrase
The "cluck" or "squawk" phrase sounds like a chicken cluck and is typically used at or around the nest sight by both male and female when they have brought food back to the nest...seemingly as an indication that they are ready to give the food to the chicks or when the male is going to give the food to the female, in the sense of: "I'm here and have food to give you."
High-Low Phrase
"The call was primarily associated with aggressive encounters among conspecifics." First described by HAFTORN, S., HUANG, W.-C., GRISWOLD, C. K., & HAILMAN, J. P. (2008). Independent discoveries of a new, apparently homologous call in the Willow Tit Parus montanus and Black-capped Chickadee Parus atricapillus:
Send your audio or video examples of a "high-low" call and we'll post it here on our website.
"Pitter" Phrase
The pitter is a series of rapid broadband, rough syllables often used by the female (but sometimes the male) when there is an exchange with the male at or near the nest site (e.g. when the male flies in with food). Many times, the female leaves the nest after she gives this call, perhaps indicating that this phrase is a request for the male to attend to the nest. The call is always accompanied with a series of wing flaps; when the male isn't present at the nest the female will often do the "wing flap" when departing nest.
"Begging" Phrase
This series of various syllables, often called the begging dee, are used by chicks and juveniles while begging for food. It is unclear whether this is a undeveloped version of the "chick-a-dee" call but some observations of the development of this vocalization over time from the same juveniles are suggestive that it might be.
"Hee haw haw" Phrase
This phrase, perhaps first described here unless it is just a variation of the "broken dee", is often given by the female when the male is in the nest, and the female has just arrived (often with food) and she wants him to leave the nest.
"Hiss" Phrase
A sound made by an adult chickadee protecting chicks within a nest cavity. Also called the "snake display".
"Pit" Phrase
A "pit" call, similar in acoustics to a broken dee but fainter and broader in frequency range, given by a female chickadee when at a nest sight. Unknown function. Have an idea of what you think it might be used for?
"Snarl" Phrase
Described as a "snarl" call and similar to a hiss call, by Fickens et al in 1972: "Fights are rare and were observed only three times; all took place when a strange male was within 10 m of a nest cavity. The resident male immediately flew at the intruder and, during the ensuing fights, a snarling noise was heard on two occasions. The situations in which the Snarl occurs may be similar to those of the Hiss, but we think it may be uttered when the attack tendency is relatively stronger."
Send your audio or video examples of a "snarl" call and we'll post it here on our website.
