Chickadee (Parus sp.)
Length about 5 inches. Resident in most of North America.
Because of its delightful notes, its flitting ways, and its fearlessness,
the chickadee is one of our best known birds. It responds to human
encouragement, and by hanging a constant supply of suet, this
black-capped visitor can be made a regular feeder in suburban
gardens or city yards. Though small in size, these cousins of the
titmice are highly useful against insects, gleaned mostly from the
twigs and branches of trees. The chickadee’s food is made up of
insects and seeds, largely seeds of pines, with a few of the poison
ivy, some weeds, and sunflowers.