The Black-capped Chickadee is the State of Maine’s official bird. Actually, the law only refers to the “chickadee,” but there are other species. This 5 inch bird inhabits the northern half of the United States and southern Canada. In addition to the familiar chicka-dee-dee call, its song, sounding like hey-sweetie or fee-bee-bee, is less associated with the Chickadee.
Song of the Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee (2010)
Black-capped Chickadee (2007)
The Carolina Chickadee bears a striking resemblance to the Black-capped, though its range is confined to the southeastern United States.
The Boreal Chickadee, found in Alaska, Canada and northern Maine, has a significantly different appearance with brown markings instead of black. It is rarely seen because is stays primarily in the interior of of dense spruces.
The tiny Mountain Chickadee is found in the dry evergreen forests in the mountains of the western United States and Canada. Very small with black and white colors, it has a distinctive white stripe over its eyes.