Chickadees and titmice (Paridae)
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis. Mostly insects and spiders in the breeding season; seeds and berries in winter.
Chickadees and titmice (Paridae)Carolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensis
- Scientific name
- Poecile carolinensis
- Length
- 3.9–4.7 in
- Weight
- 0.3–0.4 oz
- Nest
- Cavities in dead wood or nest boxes, often with moss nesting material
- Entrance hole
- 1 1/8 in round
- Clutch
- 3–10 eggs
- Incubation
- 11–14 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Identification
- Black cap and bib with white cheeks, very like Black-capped
- Neater lower edge to the bib and greyer wing coverts with little white edging
- Slightly smaller and shorter-tailed than Black-capped
Voice
Four-note whistled "fee-bee-fee-bay"; a faster, higher "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" than Black-capped.
Diet and feeding
Mostly insects and spiders in the breeding season; seeds and berries in winter.
What do Carolina chickadees eat? · Best feeder for Carolina chickadees
Carolina Chickadees by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Florida | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Kansas | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | April–June |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Oklahoma | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | April–June |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Texas | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | April–June |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | April–June |
Often confused with
Frequently asked
What do Carolina chickadees eat?
Mostly insects and spiders in the breeding season; seeds and berries in winter. At feeders: black-oil sunflower, suet, shelled peanuts.
How big is a Carolina Chickadee?
3.9–4.7 in long and 0.3–0.4 oz.
Do Carolina chickadees use birdhouses?
Yes — a 1 1/8 in round entrance, 4 × 4 in floor, mounted 5–15 ft.
Sources
- Carolina Chickadee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Carolina Chickadee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Carolina Chickadee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.