chickadee

noun

chick·​a·​dee ˈchi-kə-(ˌ)dē How to pronounce chickadee (audio)
: any of several small North American oscine birds (genus Poecile of the family Paridae) that are related to the titmice, usually have the crown of the head distinctly darker than the body, and have sometimes been placed especially formerly in a related genus (Parus)

Examples of chickadee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These seed heads are a great source of food for cardinals, finches and chickadees. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 12 Aug. 2023 Consider the black-capped chickadee, which frequents the northern United States and southern Canada year-round. The New York Times Elaine Chen Emily Anthes, New York Times, 18 May 2023 Maine: Chickadee The chickadee is Maine's state bird. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023 This type of birdhouse will attract birds such as wrens, bluebirds, chickadees, tree swallows, warblers, nuthatches, and more. Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2023 The Humane Society recommends safflower seed for attracting cardinals, chickadees and titmice; nyjer thistle for goldfinches; and white proso millet for mourning doves and house finches. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 30 June 2023 The smallest entry hole available is 1.125 inches, which is suitable for smaller birds such as house wrens and chickadees. Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2023 Songbirds — species such as warbles, sparrows and chickadees — have had declining populations for decades, Blake said. Conocophillips Alaska, Anchorage Daily News, 9 June 2023 This is a perfect birdhouse for wrens and chickadees, since the hole size is 1.25 inches. Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chickadee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chickadee was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near chickadee

Cite this Entry

“Chickadee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chickadee. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

chickadee

noun
chick·​a·​dee ˈchik-ə-(ˌ)dē How to pronounce chickadee (audio)
: any of several small North American birds with the top of the head black or brown

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