What is the State Bird of Massachusetts? (And Why?)

Massachusetts is the seventh smallest and 16th most populous state in the United States. Despite being a small state, Massachusetts is home to many diverse regions, including large swaths of coastal plains and hilly country. Massachusetts has no state animal, the state marine animal is the right whale, but what is the state bird?

Massachusetts chose the black-crested tit (Poecile atricapillus) as its state bird in 1941. The black-and-white bird with an oversized head greeted Massachusetts residents with excitement. Chickadees, also known as black-capped chickadees, prefer deciduous and mixed forests. This tit eats primarily insects, but also eats plants, with a penchant for poison ivy.

Massachusetts’ state bird, the black-capped tit

Why is the black-capped tit the state bird of Massachusetts?

The Bay State of Massachusetts chose the wild black-crested tit as its state bird, but did not state why in legislation. The bird makes its home in all wooded areas of the state — cottonwood groves, deciduous and mixed forests, open woods, willow groves, and even parks. The best theory is that its cuteness caught on and attracted residents of the state. Outgoing birds openly approach humans. The black-capped tit has a zest for everything life does, making it a great addition to the state’s residents.

When did the black-crowned tit become the state bird of Massachusetts?

On March 21, 1941, the Massachusetts legislature made the black-capped tit the state bird. Massachusetts shares the black-capped chickadee as its state bird with Maine.

Black-capped tit perched on a bird feeder

What does Massachusetts’ state bird look like?

This songbird entertains trees in Massachusetts and appears to wear a tuxedo or suit with white or cream plumage. It has some unique features, including a V-shaped black band.

The black-capped tit has a silver bill and a black forehead and face. Its stomach is usually cream or white, while its back grows the same gray variant. The bird has gray and black tail and wings. Both sexes grow to about 4.7 to 5.9 inches in length.

Its wingspan ranges from 7.5 to 8.7 inches. These little birds don’t weigh much — only 0.3175 ounces to 0.4938 ounces. They have a wingspan of 6.29 to 8.26 inches.

black tit

How are these birds behaving?

Friendly, gregarious black tits mate for life. Unlike some birds, they do not display complex mating rituals. Males will chase off invading male birds, but scientists have yet to observe courtship dances or songs. These birds do engage in mating.

Birds form pairs and then break away from flocks. They build nests together, usually in tree hollows. They prefer cavities with partially rotted wood, as this provides a softer foundation. The females prepare it for breeding by adding moss and other soft materials to the side. This takes about a week.

The hen lays about 6 eggs, but clutches can range from one to 11 eggs. She incubates her eggs for 12 days, during which time the male feeds her. When he finds suitable food, he may call her to feed it from the nest, or she may call him to bring her food. When their young hatch, the females tend to them, while the males hunt and forage, bringing food back to the nest for the family to eat. Both parents feed the child.

The small black-headed tit grows rapidly and ventures out of the nest on the 16th day. About ten days after the first flight, the chicks venture out on their own in search of food.

The average lifespan of these birds is two to three years, but the record for this bird is 11 years and six months. They breed once or twice per season.

Black-capped tits gathering nesting material

Do black-capped tits form colonies?

Black-capped tits form nuclear families. These monogamous birds mate for life. In winter, they do fly with a flock of birds, but they use this flock travel as a way to meet and mate. They choose a partner from the flock. Once bonded, they build a nest together. This bird is willing to nest in an aviary, as long as you place the aviary high enough that the bird can avoid predators—between 4 and 15 feet in height. To make the birdhouse more attractive, place some wood chips in it.

Black-capped tits migrate for the winter as they search for suitable breeding habitat. Once they built their home, they wanted to stay there to support their family. Their nesting period starts from April and lasts until June.

Their flocks tend to consist of about a dozen or fewer birds. It contains some adult pairs, some single adults and some teens. The flock forms a feeding area around a dominant couple and only stays together from August to February. As they fly territorially, they interact with other birds, including tufted chickadees, downy woodpeckers and white-breasted nuthatches.

A black-capped tit brings an insect back to its nest

What do black tits eat?

Black-crested tits like to eat meat, which may sound odd for a bird’s diet. In winter, about 50 percent of their diet consists of insects, insect larvae and egg shells. In summer, this percentage increases to 80%. They are beneficial birds because they feed on caterpillars, canker bugs, and spruce budworms.

To attract them to your bird feeder or aviary, place a suet feeder in your yard. You can also attract them with black oil sunflower seeds in a feeder. Black-capped tits are well behaved. Only one bird is feeding at a time so they take turns at the feeder. Alpha or dominant birds eat first.

For more information on their diet, click here.