Black-capped Chickadees in Washington
When black-capped chickadees are present in Washington, when they nest, which native Washington plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.
- Status in Washington
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
- Nest box
- 1 1/8 in round hole, 4 × 4 in floor, 5–15 ft
When to expect black-capped chickadees in Washington
Black-capped Chickadees live in Washington all year. Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east. 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.
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades, semi-arid shrub-steppe to the east.
Nesting in Washington
Across Washington, black-capped chickadees typically nest from April–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.
Dry, sunny summers west of the Cascades; hot in the Columbia Basin.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — 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 Washington plants that attract black-capped chickadees
Of the regional native plants we track for Washington, these 8 provide food or cover black-capped chickadees use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Feeding black-capped chickadees through the Washington 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 Washington's winter: Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east.
Full diet breakdown for black-capped chickadees · Best feeder for black-capped chickadees
Frequently asked
Are black-capped chickadees in Washington year-round?
Yes. Black-capped Chickadees are year-round residents in Washington.
When do black-capped chickadees nest in Washington?
Nesting in Washington typically runs April–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 Washington?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Rocky Mountain juniper are native plants in Washington 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 Washington
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 — Washington
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.