Black-capped Chickadee

This is a tail feather from a small, iconic North American songbird known for its oversized round head and tiny body. The bird is characterized by a black cap and bib, white cheeks, and gray-toned wings and tail with white-edged feathers.

Slate gray to charcoal base with distinct white to off-white edging on the outer vanes. The tip is predominantly white/light gray.

Pennaceous throughout most of the vane with interlocked barbules; plumulaceous (downy) at the very base near the calamus.

Smooth, lightweight, and soft to the touch with a matte finish. The vane is flexible rather than rigid.

Small size, slate gray coloration with white outer margins, and a symmetrical shape indicating a tail position.

Deciduous and mixed forests, open woodlands, parks, and suburban gardens.

Resident throughout the northern half of the United States and most of Canada.

Primary insectivore/granivore; they act as a control for forest pests and serve as a prey source for small hawks and owls.

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), which has less white edging on the wing and tail feathers; Mountain Chickadee, which has a white eyebrow.

Black-capped Chickadees have an incredible memory; they hide thousands of seeds and can remember the location of each one for months. Their brain actually grows larger in the fall to accommodate this extra spatial information.

Good condition. The feather appears freshly molted with minimal wear or fraying at the edges. No visible fault bars.