Where do chickadees sleep?
Chickadees sleep alone in small tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, nest boxes or dense conifers. On cold nights they let their body temperature drop about 15°F into a controlled hypothermia.
Where they roost
- Tree cavities, often in birch or aspen.
- Nest boxes with a 1⅛-inch hole.
- Dense spruce and fir foliage.
Getting through cold nights
A Black-capped Chickadee can lose 10% of its body weight overnight in a northern winter and must refuel each morning. Regulated hypothermia saves around a quarter of its overnight energy.
How to help in your yard
- Leave a chickadee box up all year.
- Offer black-oil sunflower and suet from first light.
- Plant native conifers.
Frequently asked
Where do chickadees sleep at night?
Chickadees sleep alone in small tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, nest boxes or dense conifers. On cold nights they let their body temperature drop about 15°F into a controlled hypothermia.
How do chickadees survive cold nights?
A Black-capped Chickadee can lose 10% of its body weight overnight in a northern winter and must refuel each morning. Regulated hypothermia saves around a quarter of its overnight energy.
Do chickadees roost together?
Usually not; each tends to sleep alone, unlike bluebirds.
Other birds
Species covered: Black-capped Chickadees, Carolina Chickadees.
Sources
- Black-capped Chickadee life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- Cornell Lab, All About Birds: How do birds sleep?
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.
Boxes for roosting birds
Cavity sleepers use the same boxes in winter that they nest in during spring.
Six-Room Wooden Birdhouse
A small wooden village of six roofed rooms on one base. About 20 cm long, 13 cm deep and 15 cm tall (7.9 x 5.1 x 5.9 in). Two finishes: natural wood or a dark scorched stain.Honest noteThis is a decorative piece. The rooms are too small and shallow to meet nest-box guidelines for most songbirds, the roof doesn't open for cleaning, and hummingbirds never nest in boxes. For a working nest box, see our nest-box guides.Specs Material: wood with water-resistant finish Six openings, front arched doorway
Classic Wooden Nest Box
A straightforward wooden nest box for small garden birds. The enclosed design gives cavity nesters shelter from weather and predators through the breeding season.Place in a quiet spot with a clear flight path to the entrance, and clean annually after fledging. Natural wood Enclosed cavity design For wrens, chickadees, tits and similar species
Wooden Nest Box with Perch
A simple wooden nest box (19.5 × 12 cm) with a small entrance perch, sized for small parrots and similar cavity nesters in aviaries or sheltered outdoor spaces.Made from natural wood with a hinged or sliding panel for cleaning between seasons. 19.5 × 12 cm Entrance perch included Natural wood construction
Hanging Wooden Nest Box
A lightweight wooden nest box that hangs from a branch, beam or hook. Suited to small birds that nest in enclosed cavities.Hang it in a sheltered spot out of full afternoon sun, and clean it out once a year after the breeding season ends. Natural wood Hanging design with attached loop For small cavity-nesting birds