Chickadee trivia

Chickadee Mini Quiz

Test your knowledge with these top questions!

Question 1

The distinctive 'chick-a-dee dee dee' call of the chickadee is thought to communicate what information?

The number of "dee" notes in a chickadee's call varies with predator threat severity, signaling flock members to adjust their response from mild alarm to urgent escape.

Question 2

Black capped chickadees can remember thousands of food cache locations. Which species shares this amazing memory skill?

Clark's nutcrackers cache up to 33,000 pine seeds across thousands of sites and retrieve over 70% after nine months, rivaling the spatial memory of black-capped chickadees.

Question 3

Chickadees can significantly lower their body temperature to conserve energy. What is this survival tactic called?

During torpor, black-capped chickadees lower their body temperature from about 42°C to as low as 23°C, slashing energy expenditure by up to 90% to survive cold nights.

Question 4

Chickadees have a unique alarm call that signals danger. What does this complex call often attract?

Chickadees' alarm calls recruit mobbing birds to harass predators, often drawing in the predator's own enemies like hawks or owls that may attack and remove the threat.

Question 5

Chickadees are known for their acrobatics, often hanging upside down to eat seeds. Which is a common food source?

Chickadees prefer black oil sunflower seeds because their thin shells are easy to crack, providing high-energy nutrition ideal for their acrobatic feeding style.