How to attract mountain chickadees to your yard
Mountain Chickadees respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 15 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. The Mountain Chickadee is a year-round resident in 15 states and provinces, including Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho and 9 more — there, a yard can host it in every season.
Plant what mountain chickadees use
These native plants are tied to the Mountain Chickadee in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Shrub | 15 | Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. |
| Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa | Tree | 12 | Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat. |
| Rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa | Shrub | 12 | Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows. |
| Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum | Tree | 12 | Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 12 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
| Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii | Tree | 8 | Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees. |
| Paper birch Betula papyrifera | Tree | 7 | Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter. |
| Gambel oak Quercus gambelii | Tree | 6 | Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies. |
| Oregon white oak Quercus garryana | Tree | 4 | Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest. |
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 3 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, tree, perennial). Layering matters: mixing shrub, tree, perennial gives mountain chickadees food, perches and cover at different heights. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Conifer seeds and insects.
- Warm months
- Caterpillars and beetle larvae
- Cold months
- Pine and fir seeds
- At feeders
- Black-oil sunflower, Suet, Peanut hearts
Feeder style matters as much as food: tube feeder with short perches is the first choice for this bird. Mountain Chickadees drop to lower-elevation towns in winter and readily use nest boxes. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Cavity or nest box lined with fur.
The Mountain Chickadee uses nest boxes with a 1 1/8 in entrance, mounted 5–15 ft. Exact box dimensions →
- Clutch
- 5–9 eggs
- Incubation
- 14 days
- Nestling period
- 18–21 days
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around April in Arizona but not until June in Yukon. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; residents usually find a stocked yard first.
Frequently asked
What attracts mountain chickadees to a yard?
Food they actually eat (black-oil sunflower, suet, peanut hearts), native plants such as Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, clean water and suitable nesting cover: cavity or nest box lined with fur.
What plants attract mountain chickadees?
Across the Mountain Chickadee's range, the native plants most often tied to it are Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum), Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting mountain chickadees?
Nesting starts around April in Arizona and as late as June in Yukon. Have cover, water and nest boxes ready a month before.
Sources
- Mountain Chickadee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mountain Chickadee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mountain Chickadee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.