Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Black-Capped Chickadee

There are seven species of chickadee in the world.
Chickadees, along with titmice, belong to the family Paridae.
 
A group of chickadees can be called a banditry of chickadees.
This collective noun probably refers to the mask-like appearance of chickadee species.

The range of Black-capped Chickadees overlaps with that of Carolina Chickadees.
They look so much alike that even the birds themselves
 may have a hard time telling each other apart – they hybridize!

 
The Black-Capped Chickadee hides seeds and other food items to eat later.
Each item is placed in a different spot and the chickadee
 can remember thousands of hiding places.

 Every autumn Black-capped Chickadees allow brain neurons containing old information to die, replacing them with new neurons so they can adapt to changes in their social flocks and environment even with their tiny brains.
 
sharing with...
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60 comments:

  1. They are such sweet birds.
    Lovely shots and I really like how you captured that last shot!

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  2. Beautiful shots and good explanation...

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  3. they're a beautiful bird; lovely series

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  4. Wonderful captures of this sweet little chickadee .... makes my heart sing.

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  5. What delightful shots.

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  6. Great photos of a very interesting little bird.

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  7. These birds are beyond adorable, and beautifully captured too.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  8. These birds are beyond adorable, and beautifully captured too.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  9. Lovely sharpness...... very good photographed Karen.

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  10. Wonderful shots of these cuties.

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  11. Gorgeous shots of the Chickadee. They are cuties! Have a happy day, Karen!

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  12. Excellent photos. I always find the Chickadees are much more friendlier than other birds. They are not afraid to land on your hand and eat seed from it.

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  13. Beautiful! I love the final photo.

    Hazel

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  14. Wonderful images of the little birds! Such good perspective…did he pose for you?

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  15. These images, all of them, make me go "Awwwwww". How cute. I especially loved the one with the half peanut in its beak. AND...it was great reading the little ditty about the brain neurons.

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  16. Beautiful shots. I like the final photo.

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  17. What a beautiful bird. I especially like your bottom shot.

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  18. Splendid little birds - we don't have any of this type of bird in Australia.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  19. Splendid images and interesting information.......thank you Karen. We don't have these birds here either but aren't wild things amazing!

    Happy Tuesday,
    Ruby

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  20. Lovely photos!
    And thanks for the new term - a banditry!
    As the weather turns cooler we are seeing more birds at our feeders, too.
    Have a wonderful week!
    Lea

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  21. Lovely, lovely visitors Karen!

    Please consider yourself officially invited to participate this year's 5th Annual Gratitude (word) Quilt. Instructions (it is very simple) and a link that explains the origin of the word quilt can be found at the top of my blog. In past years there have been participants from every continent except Antarctica. If I’ve already invited you, and even if you've already sent your "patch" I apologize... I am trying to reach as many people as possible to make this the most expansive word quilt ever, and sometimes forget whom I’ve already left this message for in a comment, and since I don't know all of your last names, it makes it even more complicated for me to remember. My intention is most certainly NOT to spam you. I hope you'll join us it is really amazing when all the words unfurl on November 27th, Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

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  22. i love these little guys! and thanks for the education on their remarkable memory works!

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  23. Fascinating stuff! They are one of my favorite birds with their sweet, animated ways. The photos are beautiful!

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  24. Love that last photo! Interesting information, Karen. I didn't know that they hide food and could remember all the places they put it.

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  25. Nice shots. And interesting information about the chickadees.

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  26. Such a beautiful little bird and your captures are delightful, Karen, as always!! Hope your week is off to a great start!! Enjoy!

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  27. Great post Karen, superb detail, composition and light on these lovely birds. Good photography girl!

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  28. thanks for the visit...these chickadees are my extended family at the moment. they are eating me out of house and home...love your shots and your processing. maybe one day I will be able to make my pictures look half as nice as your. g

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  29. Wonderful shots of the chickadees.

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  30. I learned a few things about chickadees! Thanks. Nice photos of one of my favorite backyard birds.

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  31. Gorgeous birds. And explanation for what happens to my brain cells.

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  32. Great photos of the chickadees. They are such cute looking little birds.

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  33. One of my favorites for sure -- sweetest faces ever! :)

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  34. Beautiful bird portraits. They are lovely animals. And you have so much patience too. Well done...!

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  35. Now these are incredible photos!!!

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  36. They are so cute!
    I like the out with the old memories and in with the new. I might be able to find my keys if I could do that!

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  37. very cool chickadee information. The Chickadee is the bird of MA. which is the state I live in

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  38. WoW, i had no idea!! the last image is simply brilliant!!

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  39. Chickadees are my favorite bird, and I learned a lot about them from your post! I never knew a flock was a "bandity" or that they replace neurons each year. (Wish I could do that too.) Excellent post and beautiful photos.

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  40. Very nice series on the Chickadee!
    Splendid photographs!
    Now, if only I could replace neurons and learn to adapt to changes in my environment with my tiny brain!

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  41. I could do with the memory of a chickadee! One of my favourites among the little birds, I just adore them.

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  42. Karen! That was so interesting. You share your knowledge in such a great way; I always leave here knowing more than I did before I came. I didn't know any of this, even though I adore chickadees. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely pictures and all the info.

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  43. Cute little ones.
    Very informative post too, never get to see them here, so never knew them.

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  44. Lovely shots Karen. Sounds like your chickadee has the same habits as our Coal Tit Periparus ater - they look very alike too.

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  45. Truly, Lovely captures! the birds looking cute..
    Regards
    my new post about a great heritage site "Qutub Minar".

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  46. Great shots and fascinating info about these sweet little birds.

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  47. The chickadees look like they are really enjoying themselves.

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  48. wonderful Bird und lovely Photos
    very interesting
    With us living Blue Tit and Great Tit /Blaumeise und Kohlmeise-- is that the correct translation?
    * Smile * (Google Translate)

    greetings from Germany
    Traudi

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  49. Love the group name and I didn't know that...such good photos Karen..Michelle

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  50. j'adore tes photos sont sublimes!!!!!

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  51. Thank you for sharing such good pictures and such nice information about Chickadees. I am amazed to learn about their brains.

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  52. lovely images of that little chickadee. :)

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  53. a great study, fascinating info and your usual high standard of beautiful, precise pics, *S*

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