Ashley and Crippen Photographers, Toronto|Corporate Headshots/Executive Headshots 

Nature

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

A small and constantly active bird, the Black-capped Chickadee is found right across central North America in open woodland-but also often visits suburban bird feeders, where it is particular fond of sunflower seeds and suet. It nests in a tree hole, often in a rotten stump, making a loose cup of plant material and feathers to hold 4-8 white eggs lightly spotted with rust-brown. These are incubated for 10-12 days and the young are ready to leave the nest just over two weeks after hatching. The adult is a bold, long tailed bird, with a large head and rather fluffy plumage. It is gray above, creamy beneath with buff flanks. and has a black throat patch and cap, and a white face. The secondary wing feathers are boldly edged in white, but this may only be apparent in fresh plumage. After the breeding season is over, the Black-capped Chickadee forms small flocks to roost and forage together. It eats insects, seeds and berries.