Black-capped Chickadees in Newfoundland and Labrador
When black-capped chickadees are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.
- Status in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–6b
- Nest box
- 1 1/8 in round hole, 4 × 4 in floor, 5–15 ft
When to expect black-capped chickadees in Newfoundland and Labrador
Black-capped Chickadees live in Newfoundland and Labrador all year. Long, snowy, windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward cached seeds and insect eggs; suet and sunflower at feeders; poison-ivy and bayberry fruit.
Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador
Across Newfoundland and Labrador, black-capped chickadees typically nest from May–July. Nest site: excavates or reuses cavities in soft, rotting wood; readily uses nest boxes. Females lay 1–13 eggs (usually 6–8), incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 12–16 days.
Cool summers; nesting often starts in June.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — black-capped chickadees begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 1 1/8 in round entrance on a 4 × 4 in floor, mounted 5–15 ft.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after July.
Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract black-capped chickadees
Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 8 provide food or cover black-capped chickadees use:
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Persistent cones in boreal bogs.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Feeding black-capped chickadees through the Newfoundland and Labrador year
Chickadees grab one seed, leave to hammer it open or hide it, then return. They are among the first to find a new feeder.
- Best foods: Black-oil sunflower, Suet, Shelled peanuts, Hulled sunflower.
- In Newfoundland and Labrador's winter: Long, snowy, windy winters.
Full diet breakdown for black-capped chickadees · Best feeder for black-capped chickadees
Frequently asked
Are black-capped chickadees in Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?
Yes. Black-capped Chickadees are year-round residents in Newfoundland and Labrador.
When do black-capped chickadees nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 1–13 eggs (usually 6–8), incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract black-capped chickadees in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Eastern white pine, Paper birch, Red maple, Chokecherry, Balsam fir, White spruce, Black spruce, Tamarack are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for black-capped chickadees.
What size birdhouse hole do black-capped chickadees need?
1 1/8 in round, with a floor of 4 × 4 in mounted 5–15 ft.
Black-capped Chickadees in other regions
Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador
Sources
- Black-capped Chickadee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-capped Chickadee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-capped Chickadee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Newfoundland and Labrador
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.