Black-capped Chickadee Dictionary (To understand Waveforms and Spectragraphs like those below, see our Picturing Sound Lesson. To learn how scientists study animal sounds, see our Studying Animal Sound Lesson) Photo Courtesy of Ann Cook Whistled Song (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.") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Chickaee's Whistled Song: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Chickadee-dee Call (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!") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Chickaee-dee Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios 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. Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Gargle Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Chatter Call (chatter) Given by dominant chickadee after a chase ("So there!") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to two Chatter Calls (the second is more typical than the first: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios High Zee Call (see) Given when a predator is detected ("Freeze! Here comes a hawk!") or as a general alarm call (Look out!). Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a High Zee Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Tseet (Tseet) not clearly understood, but apparently given when chickadees are isolated from the flock to maintain contact ("I'm here! I'm here! I'm here!") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Tseet Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Tsleet (Tsleet--louder and with more notes than the Tseet call) Given by dominant members of flock as they leave one feeding area to go to another ("C'mon, guys, we're outta here!") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Tsleet Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Broken Dee Call (dee) Given by females in breeding season, attracting a mate, cementing the pair bond and possibly asking the male to feed her. ("Hiya, big boy. How's about giving me a lil' ol' bug?") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Broken Dee Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Dave Gammon, Biology Department Colorado State University Explosive hiss (hissssssss) Given by female inside nest cavity when a predator (or curious person) surprises it. ("Gasp! Get away from here!!") Activities 1. Vocabulary Quiz. After studying the Chickadee Dictionary, check your understanding with our Chickadee Vocabulary Quiz! 2. Journaling. If chickadees could speak, would they have more nouns and verbs, or more adjectives and adverbs in their vocabulary? Explain. Discussion 1. Think of ways we humans use our senses to perceive our world, and how this affects our language. List some words we humans have that would have no meaning for a chickadee. 2. Researchers have discovered at least 15 different vocalizations for chickadees. Why do you think they have so many? Why do humans need more words than chickadees do? (Back to the Journey North Animal Dictionary) Copyright 2001 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form