Carolina Chickadees in Pennsylvania

Carolina Chickadees live in Pennsylvania all year — southeast and southwest only. Snow cover makes suet and heated water valuable; both chickadee species meet in a narrow hybrid zone across the south of the state. 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 continental; cold, snowy winters in the north and mountains, milder in the southeast.

Across Pennsylvania, 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.

Warm summers; bluebirds typically raise two broods.

• 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania's winter: Snow cover makes suet and heated water valuable; both chickadee species meet in a narrow hybrid zone across the south of the state.

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