To help them conserve this valuable fat, chickadees have one more physiological trick. They drop their body temperature at night, much like woodchucks and ground squirrels. By producing less heat, they burn less fat. The average life span of adult chickadees is probably 2 to 3 years, although one banded black-capped lived to at least 12 years and 5 months. Chickadees are preyed upon by sharp-shinned hawks, northern shrikes, merlins, and other avian predators.
Red squirrels take eggs and young from nests.
Dispersing juveniles in mid-summer are probably most vulnerable to predation because they are inexperienced and in unfamiliar surroundings. Chickadees are of considerable value to humans. They are one of the most popular visitors to bird feeders and among the most easily drawn in. These merry sprites may be attracted simply by tacking a piece of animal fat to a tree. Their favorite foods at feeders are suet, fat mixed with peanut butter, and unshelled sunflower seed hearts or whole black oil sunflower seeds.