Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
The Black-capped Chickadee is a small, lively songbird known for its distinctive black cap and bib, contrasting with its white cheeks. Commonly found in Montreal's parks throughout the year, this adaptable bird is a familiar sight to both urban dwellers and nature enthusiasts alike.
| 🇫🇷 | Mésange à tête noire |
| 🇩🇪 | Schwarzkopfmeise |
| 🇲🇽 | Carbonero cabecinegro, Carbonero de capucha negra |
| Taxonomy | |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Paridae |
How to Identify
They have a black cap extending from the top of the head to the eyes, and a black throat. The rest of the head is white. Their wings are light grey, and their body is yellowish. They are very fast and agile flyers. To capture photos of them in flight, ensure your setup allows for a shutter speed of at least 1/3200s.
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Characteristics
| Length | 12-15cm |
| Weight | 10-14g |
| Wingspan | 15–21cm |
| Clutch Size | 1-13 eggs |
| Incubation | 12-13 days |
| Fledging | 12-16 days |
| Sexual Maturity | 1 year |
Resources
Where and When to Spot
The Black-capped Chickadee can be observed year-round in parks in and around the city. Although accustomed to humans and even willing to pick food from your palms, this species typically remains within the park's vegetation.
Observation Records by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belvédère Outremont | x | - | - | x |
| Champ des Possibles | - | x | - | - |
| Jardin Botanique de Montréal | x | - | - | x |
| Parc Angrignon | x | - | x | x |
| Parc Bernard-Landry | - | - | x | - |
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | x | x |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | x |
| Parc de la Frayère | x | - | x | - |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.