- Poecile carolinensis
Identification
Length 11·5–13 cm (4½-5 in)
- Small and plump
- Small black bill
- Black cap
- Black bib
- White cheeks
- Gray upperparts
- White belly
- Grayish-brown flanks
- Grayish-white underparts
- Gray legs and feet
Similar Species
Very similar to Black-capped Chickadee. Can be separated by voice but some individuals can learn the wrong song. These two hybridize in a narrow zone of contact.
Distribution
Southeastern quarter of the United States.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
This is a polytypic species consisting of four subspecies[1]:
- P. c. atricapilloides:
- P. c. agilis:
- P. c. extimus:
- Eastern US (eastern Missouri to northern New Jersey, Kentucky and Virginia)
- P. c. carolinensis:
- South-eastern US (eastern Arkansas to southern Virginia, Mississippi and Florida)
An additional subspecies impiger is generally considered invalid[2].
Habitat
Open deciduous and mixed forests, woodland clearings and edges and suburban backyards.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes spiders, insects, seeds, and fruits.
Breeding
It nests in holes lined with moss and fur. The clutch consists of 3-10 eggs.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Lepage D. (2021) [Avibase - https://avibase.ca/F941AAD3 ]. Retrieved 23 March 2021
- All About Birds
- Birdforum Member observations
- Sibley on identification of the Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Carolina Chickadee. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Carolina_Chickadee
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
