Subspecies of Black-capped Chickadees and their
Geographical Ranges:
1:Eastern Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus atricapillus
This subspecies is found in the eastern part of range except for Newfoundland
and the Appalachins.
2:Appalachian Black-capped Chickadee P.a. practicus
Lives in Appalachian part of species range. They similar to Eastern chickadee
with their back grayier and darker,shorter tail, and white on wing coverts
narrower.
3:Newfoundland Black-capped Chickadee P.a. bartletti
Found only on Newfoundland and Miquelon. Larger and darker coloring than
eastern Chickadee.
White on wing coverts and tail narrower.
4:Yukon Black-capped Chickadee P.a.turneri
Northwest portion of range, Alaska, the Yukon, and British Columbia.
Large, pale in coloration.
5:Long-tailed Chickadee P.a.septentrionalis
Occupies the mid continent.Most of w. Canada and U.S. Plain States.
Wings and tail longer than eastern chickadee.
6:Oregon Chickadee P.a.occidentalis
Lives in the s.w.coastal areas. S.British Columbia to n. California.
Similar to Newfoundland variety but smaller.
7:Columbian Black-capped Chickadee P.a.fortuitus
Located in the interior of British Columbia, Wash. and Oregon.
8:Pallid Black-capped Chickadee P.a.nevadensis
In the Great basin Area; Nevada,Utah,Arizonia.
Paler, with broad white on wing coverts and tail.
9:Rockey Mountain Black-capped Chickadee P.a.garrinus
Located in Rockey Mts. Area.
Larger with brown back.
Black-capped chickadees are part of a group of birds named titmouse.
There are 8 titmice in North America, all of them are in the genus Poecile.
The word titmouse comes from the Old Icelandic word titr,
meaning something small and a corruption of an old english word mase
meaning small bird.
Parus, Latin, meaning titmouse
Two Chickadee species are known to hybridize with the Black-capped: Carolina Chickadee and Mountain Chickadee. Mitochondrial DNA evidence suggests that the Black-capped and Mountain are sister species but hybrids are not common. Carolina and Black-capped were thought to be conspecifics (belonging to the same species) but have been shown to actually be seperate species. Black-cappes and Carolina hybrids are more common.(Poole,A.F. et al 1992) These two species share a common ancestor 1-2 million years ago(mya). Based on mDNA evidence the Black-capped Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse share a common ancesterabout 21/2 to 4 1/2 mya (Mack, A.L, et al 1986). Mountain Chickadees are thought to be Black-capped Chickadees closest relative dispite the more similar appearance of the Carolina Chickadee.
First, ask yourself where are you? These two chickadees geographical ranges has very little overlap. If you are in Canada, Alaska, etc you are looking at a Black-capped Chickadee. If you happen to be in south carolina, flordia, etc. most likely you are looking at a Carolina Chicakdee.
Black-capped Chickadee-
Longer tail, larger in size. White on wing coverts and especially on the
greater coverts. The division between the black throat and white breast
is uneven, black fading into the white.
Voice: fee-bee
Three note version fee-bee-bee
Carolina Chicakdee-
Smaller in size. Gray NOT white on the greater coverts. The division between
the black throat and the white breast form a neat and even line.
Voice: chick-a-dee-dee is higher pitched and faster.
Voice: see-bee-see-bay 1st and 3rd syllables are higher pitch
Voice: see-bee-bee, see is higher note
(Kaufman, 1990)
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