chickadee

American  

[chik-uh-dee] / ˈtʃɪk əˌdi /

noun

1. any of several North American birds of the genus Parus, of the titmouse family, especially P. atricapillus black-capped chickadee, having the throat and top of the head black.

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chickadee British  

/ ˈtʃɪkəˌdiː /

noun

1. any of various small North American songbirds of the genus Parus, such as P. atricapillus ( black-capped chickadee ), typically having grey-and-black plumage: family Paridae (titmice)

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Etymology

Origin of chickadee

First recorded in 1820–30; imitative

Compare meaning

How does chickadee compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• nuthatch vs. chickadee

Explanation

Chickadees are small, North American songbirds. These tiny, plump birds are mostly gray and tan, with white cheeks, a dark cap, and a black bib under the chin. There are several species of chickadees, including black-capped chickadees and mountain chickadees. These bold, curious songbirds have a complex series of calls. In fact, the name chickadee is imitative of a sound they make when warning each other about predators. The more dee sounds chickadees make when they call chicka-dee-dee-dee, the bigger the perceived threat. Chickadees are masters of memory: A single chickadee hides away up to 80,000 seeds for the winter and can remember where it stashed every one.

Example Sentences

Chickadee Bakeshop and Littlest Wishes Photography operated inside the building.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 14, 2024

Cardwell claimed the relationship between Mama June and Chickadee had been inconsistent.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2023

The show featured Alana with her mother, father and three sisters, one of whom was Anna Cardwell, then Anna Shannon, known as Chickadee.

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2023

The Amazon Essentials bra doesn’t have them; Yellowberry features a bra, the Chickadee, that the company describes as ideal for girls with sensory issues.

From Slate • Aug. 13, 2019

“Ophie! I was just telling you this story about the movie I went and saw last week. Chickadee, believe me when I tell you that the leading man was just the cat’s meow.”

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland