The Black-capped Chickadee, State Bird of Maine and Massachusetts

Jun 12, 2010
Bob Bowers

Black-capped Chickadee, State Bird for Maine, Mass - Bob Bowers

Although there are seven species of chickadees found in the United States, only one was adopted as a state bird, the Black-capped Chickadee.

In addition to being named the official state bird by Massachusetts and Maine, the Black-capped Chickadee is also the official bird of Canada's New Brunswick province, across the bay from Maine.

Designated State Birds in the U.S.

After Kentucky selected the Northern Cardinal as its official state bird in 1926, all of the states eventually followed suit. Today there are 28 species designated as state birds, including 2 domestic chickens. Interestingly, only 20 states have named birds unclaimed by any other state. The remaining states share their selection with at least one other state, and some birds have proven quite popular. The Northern Cardinal is the most popular choice, chosen by seven states, while the Western Meadowlark and the Northern Mockingbird are a close second and third.

The diminutive and friendly Black-capped Chickadee was chosen by two New England States, Massachusetts and Maine. It is also the official provincial bird of New Brunswick, the only Canadian province that adopted a bird also named in the U.S.

Maine Chose the Black-capped Chickadee in 1927

Maine consists of 35,385 square miles of sparsely populated scenic beauty, from its rocky Atlantic coastline to sweeping boreal forests. Maine was an exclave of Massachusetts, the other Black-capped Chickadee state, until it became the 23rd state on March 15, 1820, as part of the Missouri Compromise. Maine is unique in that it is the only state bordering just one other, and the only state with a one-syllable name. It is also the easternmost state in the union, and home to Acadia National Park.

Maine became the first state to select the Black-capped Chickadee, on April 6, 1927. The eighty-third state legislature adopted the bird officially with language that reads, "The state bird shall be the chickadee." It has been assumed that this official designation refers to the Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla), although the state is also home to the Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonica).

The Black-capped Chickadee was a good choice for Maine, being found year-round throughout the state. Maine is an excellent birding destination, with more than 300 species found across the state and offshore. Because of its northern climate, many of these birds are migratory and seen only seasonally, like the Atlantic Puffin, which nests on nearby islands during the summer.

Massachusetts and the Black-capped Chickadee

Massachusetts is one-third the size of Maine, but has nearly six times Maine's population. In spite of this, better than 60% of the state is forested, primarily with temperate deciduous trees. Massachusetts also has an extensive coastline, and, being on a primary bird migration route, the Atlantic Flyway, the state is home to many resident and migratory birds, including the endangered Piping Plover.

The Black-capped Chickadee is the only chickadee found within the state, and it is found throughout the state, throughout the year, making it a good choice for state bird.

However, Massachusetts came close to adopting the Veery as state bird. The Veery, a spotted thrush, is found in Massachusetts only during the summer. The state's Federation of Women's Clubs, an organization that was influential in the adoption of many state birds, named the Veery as their choice for state bird in November, 1931. A legislative bill to adopt the Veery was introduced that same year, but it failed to pass. The subject came up again ten years later, when the legislature designated the Black-capped Chickadee as the state bird and bird emblem on March 21, 1941.

The Black-capped Chickadee

The Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla) is a friendly and inquisitive bird. About five inches in length and more widespread than other chickadees, the Black-capped is popular and easily attracted to home seed feeders. Typically, six to eight eggs are incubated for less than two weeks, and the altricial young fledge in roughly another two weeks. Males feed the females during incubation. Fledglings remain with parents about three weeks before dispersing. Diet consists of insects, gleaned from bark, as well as seeds and fruit. Chicadees are non-migratory, remaining in their territory throughout the winter, and often forage in flocks during the winter.

Chickadees belong to the Paridae family, related to Remizidae (the Verdin is the only North American member of Remizidae). Four species of North American titmice also belong to the Paridae family. Parids have short, strong bills and strong legs, allowing them to forage acrobatically, often hanging upside down. At sunflower seed feeders, chickadees will fly in, select a seed and fly back to a protected roost to crack open the seed. They will also take hand-held seeds.

Black-capped Chickadee as State Bird Choice

Considering its friendly nature and popularity, it is not surprising that the Black-capped Chickadee was selected by two states. It is also the most widespread of North America's seven chickadee species, and a year-round resident; other reasons supporting its selection.

For information about other official state birds, see the following articles: