Whistled Song (Sounds like: "fee' bee-ee")
1. Loud version given exclusively by males, usually during pre-breeding and breeding season, on territory. Its purpose may be to advertise territory ("This is MY land") or to cement bond with mate ("Hey, sweetie!")

2. Soft version given by either sex to coordinate movements between mated pair ("Here I am." "Where are you?" "Wanna go this way?").

3. Soft version given by either sex when approaching nest with food during breeding season stimulates mate to leave nest and take its turn finding food. ("Now it's your turn.")

Chickadee-dee Call (Sounds like: "chickadee-dee-dee")
1. Given by males and females in many situations when chickadees are flocking ("Hi, you guys!" "How's it going?")

2. Alerts group members to food or danger ("Hey, look over here!")

3. In mobbing situations, a flock of chickadees may swarm about near a hawk or other predator, diving at its body and quickly retreating, constantly making chickadee-dee calls. ("You get out of here!")

Gargle Call (gargle)
1. Given when one chickadee intrudes on another chickadee's territory.

2. Given when two chickadees in a flock get too close together: the bird that is higher in the pecking order is the one who makes the gargle, and the other chickadee pulls away ("Get your tail off my turf!").

3. Given by dominant bird when two chickadees are disputing an item of food. ("This is MY grub!") The gargler almost always wins.