Why Do Chickadees Come and Go?

A chickadee comes in to the feeder, quickly grabs a seed, and flies away. It may return immediately, but it's more likely to wait its turn. When a whole flock of chickadees moves into the yard, it looks as if they form a living conveyer belt. One chickadee after another flies to the feeder and leaves with a seed. The birds take turns rather than squabbling over the seeds. Watch for the Black-capped Chickadee in the North and East, the Mountain Chickadee in the Rockies, the Carolina Chickadee in the southeastern quarter of the U.S., and the Chestnut-backed Chickadee (pictured) in the West and Northwest.

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