chickadee

noun

chick·​a·​dee ˈchi-kə-(ˌ)dē 

: 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

The downy also clings upside down on tree branches, reminding me of a nuthatch or chickadee. —Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025

Peanuts—shelled or unshelled—are a favorite treat of bluejays, woodpeckers, chickadees, and several other species. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2024

There would be, for her, no thrilling thunk of a landing jay, no chickadee wings fanning her ears. —Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024

Once the chickadees learned the location of the reward-dispensing feeders, the locations were changed. —Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chickadee

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

chickadee

noun

chick·​a·​dee ˈchik-ə-(ˌ)dē 

: any of several small North American birds with the top of the head black or brown