Mountain Chickadee in December
Where mountain chickadees are in December, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
December in the Mountain 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 Mountain Chickadee specifically, December is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 15 states and provinces where mountain chickadees occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where mountain chickadees are in December
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In December, mountain 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
Mountain chickadees are not nesting in December. The season runs May–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
- Pine and fir seeds
Mountain Chickadees drop to lower-elevation towns in winter and readily use nest boxes.
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 Mountain Chickadee diet guide → · Best feeder for mountain chickadees →
Watching mountain chickadees this month
Mountain 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 Mountain 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.
Mountain Chickadee month by month
Mountain Chickadee by state
Frequently asked
Where are mountain chickadees in December?
In December, mountain chickadees are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do mountain chickadees nest in December?
No — mountain chickadees typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do mountain chickadees eat in December?
Pine and fir seeds.
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
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.