Black-capped Chickadee in December
Where black-capped chickadees are in December, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
December in the Black-capped Chickadee's year
December is the start of the true winter season. Birds are settled into winter ranges and flocking behavior peaks — mixed flocks move through woods and yards together, and feeding stations become social hubs. Short days mean birds must find most of their food in a few hours of daylight.
For the Black-capped Chickadee specifically, December is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 45 states and provinces where black-capped chickadees occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where black-capped chickadees are in December
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In December, black-capped chickadees are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in December
Black-capped chickadees are not nesting in December. The season runs April–July at mid-latitudes.
That makes December a useful month for nest-box work: cleaning out old nesting material, checking mounts and predator guards, and making repairs while boxes are empty. A box that's ready early gets claimed early.
What to feed in December
- Cached seeds and insect eggs
- Suet and sunflower at feeders
- Poison-ivy and bayberry fruit
Chickadees grab one seed, leave to hammer it open or hide it, then return. They are among the first to find a new feeder.
Feeders are busiest at dawn and dusk as birds fuel up against long cold nights. Suet and other high-fat foods earn their keep this month.
Full Black-capped Chickadee diet guide → · Best feeder for black-capped chickadees →
Watching black-capped chickadees this month
Black-capped chickadees are settled and predictable in December, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
If you have a Black-capped Chickadee box up, this is the month to make sure it's clean, secure and ready — the box guide below has the exact hole size and mounting height this species needs.
Black-capped Chickadee month by month
Black-capped Chickadee by state
Frequently asked
Where are black-capped chickadees in December?
In December, black-capped chickadees are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do black-capped chickadees nest in December?
No — black-capped chickadees typically nest April through July at mid-latitudes.
What do black-capped chickadees eat in December?
Cached seeds and insect eggs; Suet and sunflower at feeders; Poison-ivy and bayberry fruit.
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
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.