Poecile is a genus of bird in the Paridae or tit family.
Chickadees are small, plump, hardy birds with short bills, short wings, and drab plumage. They are active and agile; acrobatic when feeding, often hanging upside down. They flock together when not nesting. Sexes similar. Chickadees are black-bibbed and uncrested and often quite tame and friendly, preferring suet and sunflowers at feeders.
Species include the Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis, Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus, Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli, Mexican Chickadee Poecile sclateri, Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus and the Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens.
