General

Carolina Chickadee: Small chickadee with gray upperparts, distinct black cap and bib, dull white cheeks, and white underparts with rust-brown flanks. Bill is dark and short. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Carolina Chickadee: Occurs as far north as New Jersey, central Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois and as far west as Oklahoma and central Texas. Common throughout the southeast U.S. except for extreme southern Florida. Frequents deciduous and mixed woodlands, swamps, riparian areas, open woods, and parks; also found in suburban and urban areas.

Breeding and Nesting

Carolina Chickadee: Five to eight white eggs with red brown markings are laid in a cavity lined with down and fine plant materials. Both sexes incubate eggs for 11 to 12 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Carolina Chickadee: Eats primarily insects, spiders, fruits, and seeds; forages by searching among tree branches, trunks, pinecones, and dead leaf clusters.

Vocalization

Carolina Chickadee: Song is whistled four to six notes with first and third higher in pitch, and second and fourth lower "fee-bee-fee-bay." Call is "chick-a-dee-dee."

Similar Species

Carolina Chickadee: Black-capped Chickadee is larger, has more white on wings, slightly larger black bib, and bright white cheeks.