Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
At a Glance
The Carolina Chickadee is very similar to the Black-capped Chickadee and replaces it in the southeastern states. Living in milder climates, it has been reported to be less of a visitor to bird feeders, but it does come into suburban yards for sunflower seeds. Where the ranges of Black-capped and Carolina chickadees come together, they often interbreed. In these contact zones, they also can learn to imitate each other's songs -- causing great confusion for birdwatchers.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Chickadees and Titmice, Perching Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Forests and Woodlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets, Urban and Suburban Habitats
Region
Florida, Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, Plains, Southeast, Texas
Behavior
Flitter, Rapid Wingbeats, Undulating
Population
13.000.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
The Carolina Chickadee is a permanent resident, although it can, on occasion, drift outside of its typical range.
Description
Length: 3.9–4.7 in (10–12 cm); wingspan: 5.9–7.9 in (15–20 cm); weight: 0.3–0.4 oz (8–12 g). The Carolina chickadee is a small, plump bird with a large, round head and a short, thick bill. It features a signature black cap and bib that contrast sharply with bright white cheeks. The back, wings, and tail are a uniform soft gray, while the underparts are white with a pale buff or gray wash on the flanks. Nearly identical to the Black-capped Chickadee, but this species is generally a little smaller with a cleaner, more restricted bib and noticeably less white edging on the wing feathers. Juvenile looks much like the adult but may appear slightly duller. Best identified by its more southern range.
Size
About the size of a Sparrow
Color
Black, Gray, Tan, White
Wing Shape
Rounded
Tail Shape
Notched, Rounded, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
A buzzy chickadee-dee-dee-dee, higher pitched and faster than that of the Black-capped Chickadee; song has 4 whistled notes, see-dee, see-dee, with a downward inflection, rather than the 2- or 3-noted song of the Black-capped.
Call Pattern
Falling
Call Type
Buzz, Chirp/Chip, Trill, Whistle
Habitat
Mixed and deciduous woods, river groves, shade trees. Mostly in deciduous forest, also in pine woods with good mixture of oak or other leafy trees, and will nest in well-wooded suburbs. Habitat like that of Black-capped Chickadee; where the two species overlap in the Appalachians, the Carolina Chickadee lives at lower elevations. Does require dead snags or living trees with cavities for nesting.
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Behavior
Eggs
3-10. White, with fine dots of reddish brown often concentrated around larger end. Incubation is probably by female only, 11-13 days. The male will on occasion feed the female on the nest. Carolina Chickadee adults disturbed on the nest makes loud hiss like that of a snake.
Young
Both parents of the Carolina Chickadee feed nestlings. Young leave the nest about 13-17 days after hatching.
Feeding Behavior
Forages mostly by hopping among twigs and branches and gleaning food from surface, often hanging upside down to reach underside of branches. The Carolina Chickadee sometimes takes food while hovering, and may fly out to catch insects in mid-air. Stores food items, retrieving them later. Comes to bird feeders for seeds or suet.
Diet
The Carolina Chickadee consumes mostly insects, seeds, and berries. Animal matter (generally insects and spiders) make up the vast majority of its diet in the warmer spring, summer, and fall. In the winter, it consumes animal and plant matter approximately equally. It feeds on moths, true bugs, beetles, caterpillars, aphids, various other insects, and spiders. Additionally, it eats weed and tree seeds, berries, and small fruits.
Nesting
Carolina Chickadees may mate for life. Pairs probably form in fall and remain together as part of winter flock. When flocks break up in late winter, pair establishes nesting territory. Nest site is in hole in tree, typically enlargement of small natural cavity in dead wood, sometimes old woodpecker hole or nesting box, usually 5-15 ft above the ground. In natural cavity, both sexes help excavate or enlarge the interior. Nest (probably built by female) has foundation of bark strips or other matter, lining of softer material such as plant down and animal hair.
Conservation
Conservation Status
The Carolina Chickadee is common and widespread.
Climate Threats Facing the Carolina Chickadee
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.
