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Measurements
Vary with subspecies, age, and sex; males generally slightly larger than females, older birds slightly larger than younger ones (Desrochers 1990, Smith 1991). Despite overlap in male vs. female body size, a discriminant formula using body mass, tail length, and tarsus length can usually distinguish between males and females (Desrochers 1990).
Measurements (mm) for Parus atricapillus atricapillus: breeding males (10 individuals): wing length 63.5–67.5 (mean 66.0); tail length 58–63 (mean 61.5); bill length 8.0–9.5 (mean 9.0); tarsus 16–17 (mean,16.5; Ridgway 1904). Breeding females (10 individuals): wing 60.5–66.5 (63.3); tail 56.5–63.0 (59.5); bill 9.0–9.5 (9.1); tarsus16–17 (16.9; Ridgway 1904). For other subspecies, see Smith 1991, and Pyle 1997.
Foote, Jennifer R., Daniel J. Mennill, Laurene M. Ratcliffe and Susan M. Smith. 2010. Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/039
