***Federal - MBTA***

    Everyone loves Black-capped Chickadees.  Their small size and tame personality have earned Black-capped Chickadees a loyal following.  They are quite common in woodland habitats and have adapted well to suburbs, in fact they are one of the more common birds at feeding stations.  Chickadees are named for their call, a nasal "chick-a-dee-dee-dee."  Their song, often heard but seldom recognized outside of birding circles, is a short two noted whistle, the first note higher than the second.  Chickadees travel in loose flocks of about a half dozen birds (give or take) and often travel with nuthatches, kinglets, and warblers.  They will nest in boxes placed on the side of a tree, or hanging gourds similar to those used for wrens.  Black-capped Chickadees are quite tame and soon learn to feed from a person's hand.
    There is another species of Chickadee in New York State, the Boreal Chickadee.  Boreal Chickadees are much less common than Black-capped and are found mostly from the Adirondack Park area north.  They are patterned similar, but have a brown head and back.