Carolina Chickadees in Alabama

Carolina Chickadees live in Alabama all year. Freezes are short and snow is rare; feeder traffic peaks as goldfinches, siskins and sparrows arrive from the north. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward seeds and small fruit; sunflower, suet and peanuts at feeders.

Humid subtropical, with Gulf-influenced warmth in Mobile and Baldwin counties and cooler Appalachian foothills in the northeast.

Across Alabama, Carolina chickadees typically nest from March–June. Nest site: cavities in dead wood or nest boxes, often with moss nesting material. Females lay 3–10 eggs, incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 13–17 days.

Long, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms — ventilated boxes and daily-refreshed water matter.

• Have boxes cleaned and mounted before February — Carolina chickadees begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
• Use a 1 1/8 in round entrance on a 4 × 4 in floor, mounted 5–15 ft.
• Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
• Clean out old nests after each brood and again after June.

Of the regional native plants we track for Alabama, these 8 provide food or cover Carolina chickadees use:

Like other chickadees they carry off single seeds to eat or cache, and often lead mixed flocks with titmice and nuthatches to feeders.

• Best foods: Black-oil sunflower, Suet, Shelled peanuts.
• In Alabama's winter: Freezes are short and snow is rare; feeder traffic peaks as goldfinches, siskins and sparrows arrive from the north.

Full diet breakdown for Carolina chickadees · Best feeder for Carolina chickadees