Country Mouse Studio

Welcome to my corner of the wild — where feathers, fur, and a whole lot of sass collide! On this blog, I share hilarious and fascinating facts about the birds and animals I bring to life through my watercolor art. From the side-eye of a great horned owl to the surprising antics of squirrels and foxes, each post pairs humor with a love of wildlife. Plus, if you fall in love with any of these quirky creatures, you’ll find links to my related products on Zazzle — including prints, stickers, cards,

Monday, May 19, 2025

Black-capped Chickadee: Tiny Bird, Big Memory (and Bigger Attitude)

"Chickadee: Fluffball Genius in Disguise"

Don’t be fooled by the adorable “chicka-dee-dee-dee” call — the Black-capped Chickadee is a survival mastermind. Every fall, they basically hit “refresh” on their brain, growing new neurons so they can remember hundreds of hiding spots for food.

Imagine updating your phone’s memory every season, but cuter. Also, the more "dees" in their call, the higher the emergency level. (Translation: "Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee!!" = "Something is trying to eat us!")