By Rick Baetsen This very common bird is a friend to those that feed the birds in the winter and it provides hours of entertainment with its countless trips to gather food at the feeders. In Michigan, the bird is probably the second most recognizable bird, next to the State Bird, the American Robin. The black capped chick-a-dee is a small bird, but what it lacks in size it surely makes up for in its character. The bird is only about 4 ½" long, and has a wingspan of 6-7" It has a black cap on its head and a black bib or throat patch, that are its most distinguishing markings. It has white cheek patches and a white breast and underside. Its tail and wings are of a mostly gray color, but they show white, as well. It often shows a small amount of buff color on its upper undersides, below the wings. The bird has a very bright black eye and a black bill. Both sexes are plumaged alike. The bird has a number of calls or notes, but one has a sound like that of "chick-a-dee-dee-dee." It also has a "phee-bee" call. The bird is more vocal in late winter and early spring, prior to the breeding season. Its call can be heard during any season and small groups of the birds moving through the forest foraging for foods, can often be heard calling. The birds call can be easily mouth imitated by those that spend time in the woods and it is usually very effective in calling in groups of the curious birds. The bird is a common breeding resident of much of the forested regions of the United States and Canada. In Canada, it inhabits the boreal forest habitat that covers much of the southern portions of the country. In the United States, it is found in the Northeast, Midwest and Mountain States and northern regions of the West. Its range extends up into the southern areas of Alaska. The bird is a year-round and common breeding resident throughout the entire state of Michigan, suggesting that they utilize varied forested habitat types. They are found in the hardwood forests, conifer forests, mixed hardwood/conifer forests, and woodlots and parklands. Its relative, of the Boreal Chick-a-dee, (very similar in size and markings, except that this bird has a brown colored cap), is a much rarer inhabitant of the boreal forests of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Good locations for this bird include: Whitefish Point, The Two-Hearted River Region in northern Luce County, areas around Seney in Schoolcraft County, and the Baraga Plains and Peshekee River areas of the western Upper Peninsula. As the spring breeding season approaches, pair bonding occurs between the sexes and the male courts the female. Once the female has selected a nest location, the male will actively defend the nesting territory against intruders. The birds typically excavate a nest cavity or enlarge an existing cavity in a dead tree snag or branch. The cavity is often located in the range of four to 15 feet from the ground, but much higher nest locations are not uncommon. The birds will readily accept nestboxes. In our family project of maintaining and monitoring a number of nestboxes, we have found that the birds will accept bluebird boxes placed in hardwood forests or even along grassland openings that are near forest edges. The birds have also utilized larger nestboxes that have been placed out for the Northern Saw-whet Owl, in areas of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The female lines the nest with mosses, plant materials, feathers, and hair. The bulk of the nesting materials that we have observed in the nests found in nestboxes, is that of green moss. The female lays an average of seven, white with reddish-brown speckled, eggs. Egg numbers though, can range from four to nine in number. The female incubates for about 12 days and the male brings the female food, while she incubates. The newly hatched young are tended by both adults in the nest for about another 16-18 days. After the birds fledge, the young birds remain together with the adults, as a family unit for several weeks. At this time they then disperse to locate their own territories and to become members of a flock. A bluebird nestbox that was placed out on April 25, 2000, was occupied and had a fully constructed nest of mostly mosses on May 03rd. The female began laying eggs on May 05th and as of May 09th, had laid one egg per day. This nestbox was placed on a fencepost, near a forest edge, in hopes of attracting a pair of bluebirds. An old abandoned hayrake, near the nestbox, would make a nice photo opportunity to film the bluebirds. The bluebird-filming project will have to wait for another nesting. We were however, very pleased to see the black capped chick-a-dee poke her head out of the nestbox, only eight days after we placed the box. The birds are easily attracted to backyard feeders and in northern Michigan, are most likely the most common winter feeder bird. The birds are especially fond of sunflower seeds and they will often spend time at suet feeders. The birds usually come to the feeders in small groups, with numbers typically of between six and eight birds. They are often found in mixed groups of feeding birds, which might include red and white-breasted nuthatches, woodpeckers, tufted titmice and cardinals. The birds that have become used to feeders and the people associated with feeding activities will exhibit trust and often will take seeds from an outstretched hand. The natural diet of the bird is made up of a number of seed types and insects. The birds travel in groups, foraging through a fairly large area of territory, in constant search of food. In the late evening the birds search out a roost, that is usually found in thicker cover, often of conifer trees. In the past there has been an effort to change Michigan's official State Bird, that of the American Robin, to that of the Black Capped Chick-a-dee. A number of residents believe that we need a bird that is a year-round resident, one that lives here, even during the harshest of Michigan winters. Retired Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division Chief, Pete Petoskey, is currently leading a renewed effort to make the black capped chick-a-dee the State Bird of Michigan. In a quote from The NorthWoods Call in the May 03, 2000 issue, Petoskey states, "That it is my firm belief that our state bird should be a full-time resident of the state and represent the wholesome, fun-loving qualities of our citizens". Petoskey reports, "That thousands of names are piling up on petitions asking the legislature to replace the robin." Those interested in supporting Pete Petoskey in his effort to make the black capped chick-a-dee the State Bird of Michigan, can write to him for petitions at: Pete Petoskey, 2830 Cobb, Lewiston, Michigan 49756. The chick-a-dee may not be as common as the robin in southern Michigan, but it is most likely as common throughout much of the rest of the state. The chick-a-dee is certainly a much more friendly bird and it provides entertainment throughout the year, especially when it frequents bird feeders, throughout the long Michigan winters. I strongly support Pete Petoskey's efforts to make the Black Capped Chick-a-dee, the State Bird of Michigan. Information and notes on the black capped chick-a-dee's nesting and breeding activities are made from personal observations of active nests in nestboxes and natural cavities, from northern Michigan. Photos used to illustrate this species profile were taken by the author, at locations near our backyard bird feeders, in Charlevoix County, Michigan. All images & text in this Northern Michigan Birding Bird Profile are owned by Rick Baetsen. Rick specializes in nature photography and his photographs can be purchased online at Rick Baetsen Wildlife & Nature Photography