Carolina Chickadee

Physical Description
Distribution & Habitat
Diet
Pair Formation & Territoriality
Nesting Behavior
Winter Movement & Dispersal
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Like the Black-capped Chickadee, the Carolina Chickadee has a distinctive black cap and bib and white cheeks. Unlike its counterpart, however, the Carolina Chickadee does not have the conspicuous white area in the wing created by the white feather edges. In summer, the two are best distinguished by locality and voice. Many people find it difficult to distinguish the two species, but luckily there are only a few places where their ranges overlap.

Distribution and Breeding Habitat
The Carolina Chickadee inhabits the southeastern United States, breeding in open deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests. It is also found in rural woodlands, cultivated areas with scattered trees, swamps, thickets, suburban parks, and residential areas.

Diet
Carolina Chickadees glean insects on the bark of trees, feasting on a variety of invertebrates. They also dine on seeds and berries and are frequent visitors to bird feeders.

Pair Formation and Territoriality
Carolina Chickadees are quite similar to Black-capped Chickadees in their ecology and breeding biology. Carolina Chickadees are monogamous, and pairs stay together for many years, if not permanently. Pairs remain together throughout the winter on their territory, and they defend their territory year round.

Nesting Behavior
    Nest Building:  Although the nesting behavior of the Carolina Chickadee is very similar to that of the Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadees tend to rely less on the presence of natural cavities and old woodpecker holes than its northern relative. Rather, it excavates its own cavities in snags, rotting tree trunks, and limbs for nesting purposes. This species also occasionally nests in nest boxes, but not as frequently as the Black-capped Chickadee.

The male and female work together to excavate the nest cavity, which takes around two weeks, but only the female builds the nest. The nest has a moss base and a cup made of grass, plant down, and feathers. The female lines the nest with finer materials such as fine grass, fur, and hair.

    Egg Laying: Female Carolina Chickadees lay one egg per day. The average clutch size is six eggs, but anywhere from five to eight eggs can be present. These smooth, non-glossy eggs are white with reddish brown spots concentrated at the larger end, and they are indistinguishable from Black-capped Chickadee eggs. During the egg-laying phase, the female covers the incomplete clutch with nest material whenever she leaves the nest.

    Incubation: The incubation period is 11 to 14 days and begins the day the next-to-last, or penultimate, egg is laid. The female incubates the eggs, but during this period, the male dutifully brings her food. The female is a tight sitter, that is, she does not flush readily from the nest when disturbed. If forced off the nest, she often makes a hissing sound as she leaves.

    Nestling Care: After the eggs hatch, the female broods the new nestlings. The male continues to feed her, along with the nestlings, during this time. After a few days, the male and female both tend the young equally. Nestlings fledge when they are 13 to 17 days old but remain dependent upon the parents for food and protection. After two to four weeks, they attain complete independence.

Although the number is uncertain, most pairs probably raise one brood each breeding season. Pairs will produce a replacement brood if a nesting attempt fails.

Winter Movement and Dispersal
The Carolina Chickadee is a winter resident. Pairs stay together on their territories over the winter. They forage in mixed-species flocks with nuthatches, titmice, and woodpeckers.

Little information is known about juvenile dispersal in this species.