ExploreBirds

Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

The Carolina Chickadee is a small, cheerful bird with a black cap and white cheeks. They love to flit around trees and are known for their sweet, whistling calls that sound like 'chick-a-dee-dee-dee'.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Carolina Chickadee is a small, plump songbird with a distinctive black cap and bib, contrasted by crisp white cheeks. Its back and wings are gray, while its belly is whitish with buffy sides, making it slightly less white on the wing edges compared to its northern cousin.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyParidaeGenusPoecile
Carolina Chickadee
feathered trait badgesocial trait badgesinging trait badgeinsectivorous trait badge
Carolina Chickadee

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Carolina Chickadees fluff up their feathers to trap air and stay warm.

Chickadees often nest inside abandoned woodpecker holes or tiny tree cavities!

Their heart can beat over 500 times per minute when they are active!

This tiny bird can hang upside down to find hidden insects on branches!

Special abilities

Ability

Memory Master

Carolina Chickadee can recall hundreds of hidden food locations because its brain's memory center temporarily expands in the fall.

Ability

Cold Conqueror

Carolina Chickadee can lower its body temperature at night (torpor) to save energy and survive freezing winter nights.

Ability

Forest Language

Carolina Chickadee has complex 'chick-a-dee-dee-dee' calls that communicate specific predator threats and their danger level.

Measurements & details

Length
11.5-13 cm
Wingspan
16-20 cm
Weight
0.009-0.012 kg
Lifespan
2-7 years
Top Speed
35 km/h
Clutch Size
3-10
Incubation
12-14 days

Diet & Feeding

These tiny birds feast on insects, spiders, seeds, and berries, especially in colder months!

Primary Foods

  • Caterpillars
  • Aphids
  • Spiders
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Suet
  • Berries

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

Chickadee

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Carolina Chickadee?

11.5-13 cm

What is Carolina Chickadee's wingspan?

16-20 cm

How much does Carolina Chickadee weigh?

0.009-0.012 kg

How long does Carolina Chickadee live?

2-7 years

How fast can Carolina Chickadee move?

35 km/h

What does Carolina Chickadee eat?

These tiny birds feast on insects, spiders, seeds, and berries, especially in colder months!

Where is Carolina Chickadee usually found?

Forests

How does Carolina Chickadee hunt?

Foraging

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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