Black cap; black throat and lower neck (like a bib); white cheek
patches; white chest and belly; gray back, wings, and tail;
buffy patches on the flanks. 12 cm (4.75 in) in length. The
Carolina Chickadee's call is chick-a-dee-dee-dee or a shortened
version of the same. The song of this species is usually four
whistled notes, fee-bee fee-bay. The breeding season begins in
early April, peaks later that month until early May, and extends
through mid-June. Breeding habitat includes a variety of wooded
and forested areas. This species is a cavity nester and will
nest in snags, trees, rotten fenceposts, or nest boxes. It will
excavate its own cavity, use an old woodpecker cavity, or find a
natural cavity. The cavity is lined with moss, plant material,
down, and feathers. The female lays 5-8 (usually 6) eggs that
both adults incubate for 11-12 days. The young are altricial and
fledge 13-17 days after hatching. The Carolina Chickadee prefers
forested or wooded habitats. It eats primarily insects and also
spiders, fru