This is another bird I get to enjoy in my yard all year. They are very active, aerobatic, and vocal. Their normal call is a chick-a-dee-dee-dee which is fast and high pitched.
I often see them clinging to branches or leaves upside down looking for katydids, caterpillars, spiders, and ants. They also eat berries and seeds, their favorite at my bird feeders is black oil sunflower seed. They also cache seeds coming back within an hour to a few days to retrieve them.
The Carolina Chickadee is a small bird, 4 3/4 to 5 inches long and weighing about 1/3 of an ounce. They have a black cap and throat, white cheeks and belly, and a gray back. The flanks may be tinged gray/brown, the bill is short and black, legs gray, and eyes dark.
They live in multi layered forest, shrubs along the edge of fields, marshes and swamps. You will also find them in urban areas at parks, wooded areas, gardens, and bird feeders.
After mating they will build a nest in a cavity, an old woodpecker nest or a hole they excavate in soft wood. They will also use nesting tubes or bird houses. They don't mind humans and often use chickadee houses in my back yard. It is recommended the nest boxes face north toward an open area. They need to be in the shade especially in the afternoon. They like the bird houses better if they are 8 to 14 feet off the ground.
They make a cup nest from grass, feathers, fur (especially rabbit), moss, and insect cocoons. Only the female incubates the eggs and the male brings her food. Pairs may remain mated over two or more nesting seasons. Both parents care for the young which may number from 5 to 9.
In fall and winter they often form feeding flocks with other birds, including Downy Woodpeckers, kinglets, nuthatch, and Tufted Titmouse. They usually come through my yard early morning and again mid afternoon. Working in flocks makes it easier to find food and provides protection from predators, especially hawks.
If the flock is only made up of chickadees there is a strict hierarchy as to who eats when and who keeps watch. Next time you have a flock at your feeder see if you can determine who's dominate in the flock.
I get to enjoy the Carolina Chickadee all year and they often sit in a nearby tree or shrub and scold me when I am filling the feeders. I guess I'm too slow.
Remember your back yard birds need water as much as they need food so provide them with at least one garden bird bath.
