Diet

What do mountain chickadees eat?

Conifer seeds and insects.

Tits and chickadees (Paridae)Mountain ChickadeePoecile gambeli

Spring and summer diet

  • Caterpillars and beetle larvae

Fall and winter diet

  • Pine and fir seeds

Best feeder foods

  • Black-oil sunflower
  • Suet
  • Peanut hearts

Mountain Chickadees drop to lower-elevation towns in winter and readily use nest boxes.

Which feeder works best for mountain chickadees →

Where mountain chickadees need winter food

Frequently asked

What do mountain chickadees eat?

Conifer seeds and insects.

What is the best food to feed mountain chickadees?

Black-oil sunflower, Suet, Peanut hearts.

What do mountain chickadees eat in winter?

Pine and fir seeds.

Sources

  1. Mountain Chickadee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Mountain Chickadee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Mountain Chickadee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab

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.