Does a black-capped chickadee stay put during the winter?
Neither the black-capped nor the Carolina chickadee migrate long distances. Some populations exhibit minor changes in their winter ranges versus their summer ranges, though – the most common being the phenomenon of vertical migration. Birds living high in altitude often move to lower altitudes in winter. Winter ranges are also typically larger than summer ranges, as food is more difficult to find and is more dispersed. In the winter, both species of chickadee often join foraging flocks, loose associations of other small songbirds that move throughout a territory together. Downy woodpeckers, kinglets, nuthatches and tufted titmice often associate with chickadees and forage together. More eyes looking mean less chance of being taken unaware by a predator. If you watch your feeders carefully, or if you spend time out in the woods, you will become aware of these foraging flocks moving through in “waves” of birds. Small groups will appear, forage in an area for a time, and move on – to be r
