Black-capped Chickadees are one of our favorite birds because they stay in our area through winter. They love to live among evergreen, willow, and birch trees along with Nuthatches and Woodpeckers. They are named after one of their calls: “Chick-a-dee-dee-dee” and are about the cutest birds you’ll ever see.
According to allaboutbirds.org, Cornell Lab adds that Black-capped Chickadees will hide their food in different hiding spots and can actually remember where they are, remembering thousands of different places. That’s pretty amazing!
Thornton W. Burgess captures a sweet interchange between Tommy Tit, the Black-capped Chickadee and Peter Rabbit,
“Don’t you dread the winter, Tommy Tit?” asked Peter one day, as he watched Tommy clinging head down to a twig as he picked some tiny insect eggs from the under side.
“Not a bit,” replied Tommy. “I like winter. I like cold weather. It makes a fellow feel good from the tips of his claws to the tip of his bill. I’m thankful I don’t have to take that long journey most of the birds have to. I discovered a secret a long time ago, Peter; shall I tell you?”
“Please, Tommy,” cried Peter. “You know how I love secrets.”
“Well,” replied Tommy Tit, “this is it: If a fellow keeps his stomach filled he will keep his toes warm.”
Burgess, Thornton W., The Burgess Bird Book for Children, Living Book Press, 2021, p. 190.
Here is our gathering for Tommy Tit, the Black-capped Chickadee:
Until next time, keep “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” <3 Kate
For more birds, check out: The Burgess Bird Book for Children and The Burgess Birds in Detail
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