Carolina chickadees are small, energetic songbirds that belong to the tit family Paridae. They are easily identifiable by their black cap and bib, gray back, and white cheeks. Carolina chickadees are found across the southeastern United States and are a very common backyard bird.
Do Carolina chickadees use birdhouses?
Yes, Carolina chickadees do use birdhouses. While they are cavity nesters that nest in natural cavities like old woodpecker holes or rotted out areas of trees, they have adapted well to using artificial nest boxes and birdhouses provided for them in backyards.
Carolina chickadees typically choose a nesting site in a natural cavity or birdhouse in late winter to early spring. They often reuse the same site year after year. Though small, these birds are very aggressive at defending their chosen nesting territory from other cavity nesters.
What kind of birdhouses do Carolina chickadees prefer?
Carolina chickadees have some specific preferences when it comes to nest boxes that homeowners can keep in mind:
- Entrance hole diameter: 1 1/8 inches
- Box depth: 6-10 inches
- Floor dimensions: 4×4 inches minimum
- Height above ground: 5-15 feet
- Wood type: Cedar, cypress, or pine
- No perches
Carolina chickadees prefer boxes made of untreated, natural wood attached to trees or posts at eye level. They do not like boxes with perches. The entrance hole should be small to exclude larger birds. Placing some wood shavings in the bottom of the box can help encourage nesting.
What materials do Carolina chickadees use to build their nests?
Once they select a nesting site, Carolina chickadees will build a nest out of the following materials:
- Moss
- Lichen
- Spider egg sacs
- Caterpillar cocoons
- Plant down
- Bark strips
- Feathers
- Animal hair
The nest is cup shaped and about 6 inches across with a deep inner cavity lined with softer materials like feathers. The female chickadee does most of the nest building while the male guards the territory.
When do Carolina chickadees nest?
The Carolina chickadee breeding season usually runs from April through July. Here is the typical nesting timeline:
- Nest site selection: Late March to mid April
- Nest building: Mid April
- Egg laying: Early to mid May
- Incubation: 12-16 days
- Fledging: 16-18 days after hatching
Carolina chickadees may have two broods per season, with the second nesting attempt usually in June. The female incubates the eggs and both parents feed the hatchlings.
How many eggs do Carolina chickadees lay?
A typical Carolina chickadee clutch contains 6-8 eggs. The tiny eggs are white with small reddish-brown spots. The female incubates the eggs for about two weeks before they hatch.
What do baby Carolina chickadees eat?
Carolina chickadee hatchlings are fed by both parents. Their diet consists of small insects and spiders, including:
- Caterpillars
- Moths
- Beetles
- Aphids
- Spiders
- Insect eggs
The parents work diligently to bring protein-rich insects to the nest to fuel the babies’ rapid growth. As the nestlings near fledging, they are also fed small seeds.
Do Carolina chickadees reuse nests?
Carolina chickadees do not reuse their nests for subsequent broods within a breeding season. However, they are known for reusing favored nesting sites year after year, either natural cavities or birdhouses.
Nests are not maintained or repaired between breeding seasons. The birds build a completely new nest each spring using readily available materials from their environment.
Providing a sturdy birdhouse that remains in place from season to season can help attract chickadees back to your yard when they are ready to nest in spring.
How can I attract nesting Carolina chickadees?
Here are some tips to make your yard attractive for nesting Carolina chickadees:
- Provide birdhouses designed specifically for chickadees
- Install birdhouses in late winter before breeding season
- Place houses 5-15 feet high on tree trunks or posts
- Clean out old nests from houses before new season
- Offer black oil sunflower seeds and suet year-round
- Include native plants that attract insects for feeding babies
- Avoid pesticides that reduce food supply
- Supply fur, yarn, feathers for nest materials
- Allow natural dead wood to remain for nest sites
With some chickadee-friendly additions like birdhouses, food sources, and nesting materials, you can encourage these tiny acrobatic birds to raise their families in your yard.
Conclusion
Carolina chickadees readily accept nest boxes, making them a fun backyard bird to attract. By providing an appropriate birdhouse, food, and nesting materials, homeowners can entice chickadees to nest on their property. Watching a pair of chickadees raise a brood in a nest box is an enjoyable nature experience.
With their large round heads, busy antics, and “chick-a-dee-dee” song, Carolina chickadees bring charm and personality to any garden. Encouraging these little birds to nest contributes insect control and environmental stewardship.