chickadee

American  

[chik-uh-dee] / ˈtʃɪk əˌdi /

noun

1. any of several North American birds of the genus Parus, of the titmouse family, especially P. atricapillus black-capped chickadee, having the throat and top of the head black.

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chickadee British  

/ ˈtʃɪkəˌdiː /

noun

1. any of various small North American songbirds of the genus Parus, such as P. atricapillus ( black-capped chickadee ), typically having grey-and-black plumage: family Paridae (titmice)

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Etymology

Origin of chickadee

First recorded in 1820–30; imitative

Compare meaning

How does chickadee compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• nuthatch vs. chickadee