The Chickadee by John Burroughs

Name: The Chickadee
Author: John Burroughs

This work is a collection of essays that explore the natural world and the human experience through observations of birds, particularly the chickadee. The author reflects on the characteristics and behaviors of the bird, using it as a metaphor for various aspects of life, including simplicity, resilience, and the interconnectedness of all living things.

By John Burroughs · First published 1867 · Genre: Nature Writing, Non-Fiction, Essay · 875 words

First lines

The chickadees we have always with us. They are like the evergreens among trees and plants. Winter has no terrors for them. They are properly wood-birds, but the groves and orchards know them also. Did they come near my cabin for better protection, or did they chance to find a little cavity in a tree there that suited them? Branch-builders and ground-builders are easily accommodated, but the chickadee must find a cavity, and a small one at that. The woodpeckers make a cavity when a suitable trunk or branch is found, but the chickadee, with its small, sharp beak, rarely does so; it usually smooths and deepens one already formed. This a pair did a few yards from my cabin. The opening was into the heart of a little sassafras, about four feet from the ground. Day after day the birds took turns in deepening and enlarging the cavity: a soft, gentle hammering for a few moments in the heart of the little tree, and then the appearance of the worker at the opening, with the chips in his, or her, beak. They changed off every little while, one working while the other gathered food. Absolute equality of the sexes, both in plumage and in duties, seems to prevail among these birds, as among a few other species. During the preparations for housekeeping the birds were hourly seen and heard, but as soon as the first egg was laid, all this was changed. They suddenly became very shy and quiet. Had it not been for the new egg that was added each day, one would have concluded that they had abandoned the place. There was a precious secret now that must be well kept. After incubation began, it was only by watching that I could get a glimpse of one of the birds as it came quickly to feed or to relieve the other.

What this Textopian page supports

The Chickadee is listed on Textopian as an essay by John Burroughs, dated 1867 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Essay
Author: John Burroughs
Date: 1867 CE
Language: English
Genres: Nature Writing, Non-Fiction, Essay, Wildlife Observation, Memoir
Length: 875 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Nature Writing — The text focuses on the behavior and characteristics of chickadees, emphasizing observations of their nesting and flight, typical of nature writing.
Non-Fiction — The work presents factual information about chickadees and their habits, categorizing it as non-fiction.
Essay — The reflective and descriptive style aligns with the essay format, exploring themes of nature and observation.
Wildlife Observation — The detailed account of watching chickadees in their natural habitat fits within the wildlife observation genre.