Chickadees and titmice are considered social, friendly birds and are frequent visitors to backyards and feeders. They usually live together in small flocks in woods eating primarily insects, seeds, and nuts. They like all stages of insect development, eggs, larvae, pupa and adults and spend a considerable amount of time searching every possible hiding place on a tree. Chickadees are more widespread in the United States but both kinds of birds stay within their range all year long, although migrating around in it. Generally small and gray, some species have attractive markings on their heads and some titmice have crests.
To attract chickadees and titmice plant trees that produce seeds or nuts and have plenty of branches and leaves that attract insects. Both kinds of birds like to nest in upright trees or shrubs that are eight feet and taller and tend to ignore weeping specimens.
Birch (Betula spp.)
Birch are fast growing small to medium deciduous trees or shrubs often with beautiful bark. They produce attractive catkins and often have good yellow fall color. Insects living on the plants as well as seeds are eaten by chickadees, titmice and other birds such as vireos, warblers, flycatchers and finches. Birch is a great choice for a bird garden but, unfortunately, is short-lived.
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Size: Up to 30′ depending on species and cultivar
Site: Sun to part shade; medium moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil
Hardiness: Zones 2-9 depending on species and cultivar
Redbud (Cercis canadensis, C. occidentalis, C texensis)
The redbuds are small deciduous trees with purplish-pink flowers in spring that grow from the trunk and branches before the heart-shaped leaves appear. They are outstanding garden specimens as well as outstanding bird trees, providing food for chickadees, titmice, warblers woodpeckers, vireos, flycatchers and many others.
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Size: About 20′
Site: Sun to part shade; medium moist, well-drained soil; C. occidentalis is drought tolerant
Hardiness: C. canadensis zones 5-9, C. occidentalis zones 7-9, C. texensis zones 6-9
Spruce (Picea spp.)
Spruce is a large evergreen conifer with short prickly needles. It provides food and roosting sites for chickadees and titmice as well as many other birds. The natural shapes are better for birds than dwarf or contorted forms.
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Size: Up to 100′ H
Site:Full sun; well-drained soil
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Hemlock (Tsuga spp.)
This evergreen conifer has short soft needles and small cones. It grows quickly to about 20′ and then grows more slowly to maturity at about 100′. It provides food for chickadees and titmice, and roosting for many other birds.
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Size: 100′ H
Site: Sun; well-drained soil
Hardiness: Zones 4-9 depending on the species
Oak (Quercus spp. and cultivars)
Although slow growing, these large deciduous trees are a good source of food for chickadees and titmice as well as other birds such as tanagers, orioles, vireos, warblers, and flycatchers. Native species are host plants for butterflies and moths. If you have a choice, choose a white oak for its very tasty acorns.
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Size: 80-100′ H
Site: Full sun; medium moist to dry, well-drained soil; (depending on the species)
Hardiness: Zones 4-10 depending on the species
Cinnamon and Royal Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea, O. regalis)
The brown felt on the stems of these very attractive ferns is prized nesting material chickadees and titmice. The ferns are both beautiful garden plants and can provide cover for ground dwelling plants such as towhees, thrushes and native sparrows. Both are deciduous and perennial.
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Size: 3-5′ H
Site: Part to full shade; medium to wet soil
Hardiness: O. cinnamomea zones 4-8; O. regalis zones 4-9