Carolina Chickadees in Maryland

Carolina Chickadees live in Maryland all year. Mild winters in the east with regular snow in the western mountains. 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 on the Chesapeake coastal plain, cooler in the Appalachian west.

Across Maryland, Carolina chickadees typically nest from April–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.

Hot, humid summers around the Chesapeake.

• Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland's winter: Mild winters in the east with regular snow in the western mountains.

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