Carolina Chickadee Nesting (Behavior, Eggs + Location)

The Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), is a small songbird native to the eastern deciduous forests of the United States - primarily the southeast. They are absent from higher elevations, including the Appalachian Mountain Range, where their close relative - the black-capped chickadee - is found.

The small, but mighty Carolina chickadee is a cavity nester. They excavate holes in the rotted wood of deciduous trees, including oak, maple, elm, and birch. Though they prefer hardwood trees, nests are occasionally found in pine and woody shrubs.

Inside a chickadee nesting cavity, you will find a well-constructed cup made of moss and other plant material. Nest interiors are thickly lined with animal hair, which the female uses to cover the eggs when absent.

If you are ready to learn more about the Carolina chickadee, read on! We will discuss the nesting habits of this fascinating little bird in further detail below.

Carolina chickadees are cavity nesters

Nest Location

Where do Carolina chickadees nest?

Carolina chickadees are primarily cavity nesters. They excavate their nests by enlarging naturally occurring cavities in snags. The chickadee will also refurbish abandoned woodpecker holes and nest in fence posts or birdhouses.

Do Carolina chickadees nest in the same place every year?

Carolina chickadee pairs will return to the same breeding territory every year, and even to the same nest site. However, they do not reuse old nests. When a pair returns to a previously used cavity, they will clean out the old material and start fresh. Or, they may return to the same tree but excavate a new cavity.

This applies to nest boxes as well. Pairs often return to artificial nest sites in successive years, but, once again, they will not reuse the old nesting material. If you do not clean out the birdhouse from the previous year, the returning chickadee pair will do it for you.

Do Carolina chickadees nest in backyards?

The Carolina chickadee is a common backyard bird and will nest there if the habitat is conducive. These birds are cavity nesters - they need dead trees to excavate their nest sites. Chickadee pairs also use artificial structures such as birdhouses.

Like Black-capped Chickadees (pictured), Carolina chickadees build their nests in cavities

Do Carolina chickadees use nest boxes?

Putting up a nest box (or nest tube) is a great way to attract a breeding Carolina chickadee pair. The box should have an interior floor measuring 4x4 inches and a small 1 ⅛ inch entrance placed 6 to 8 inches from the floor.

You can fill the birdhouse with sawdust or wood shavings. The nest box should be placed well before the spring breeding season.

What trees do Carolina chickadees nest in?

Deciduous forests are the primary nesting sites of Carolina chickadees. They excavate their nests in the rotting wood of oak and other hardwoods, including maple, elm, birch, willow, poplar, cherry, sassafras, and silverbell. This chickadee will also nest in pine and woody shrubs.

How high are Carolina chickadee nests?

Carolina chickadee nests are typically located in the cavity of a dead tree about 5-15 feet above the ground.

Close up of a perched Carolina chickadee

Nest Appearance

What do Carolina chickadee nests look like?

Carolina chickadees build their nests by excavating cavities in rotting wood. To the onlooker, the nest site appears to be a hole in a dead tree. The interior nest contains one or two nest cups constructed out of plant material and animal hair.

How big are Carolina chickadee nests?

Carolina chickadees are not large birds, and neither are their nests. The entrance hole for a chickadee nest in a natural cavity averages 40x44 mm. The diameter of the interior typically measures 65.2 mm with a depth of 179 mm.

Breeding pair of Carolina chickadees

Phenology

What time of year do Carolina chickadees nest?

The Carolina chickadee begins excavation and nest construction by early February in its southernmost range. Northern populations start nesting in March or April. The nesting season ends a few weeks after the chicks have fledged, once they are independent of their parents (usually early June).

How long do Carolina chickadees nest for?

Nesting season for Carolina chickadees typically lasts 3 to 4 months. On average, the female lays her eggs 20 days after constructing the nest. Once the last egg is laid, the female incubates for 12 to 15 days. Finally, the eggs hatch and the young remain in the nest for another 16 to 19 days.

What month do Carolina chickadees lay eggs?

Carolina chickadees usually lay their eggs between late March and April. Laying dates vary slightly depending on the region. Chickadees that breed farther north where winters are longer will lay later than those farther south.

Where do Carolina chickadees nest in the winter?

In winter, the Carolina chickadee remains in or near its breeding territory and continues nesting in cavities. However, they do not necessarily nest in the same location used during the breeding season.

These birds move about their territories as they forage during winter, so they do not sleep in the same place every night. Some nights may be spent in cavities the individual excavated, while others are spent in naturally occurring cavities or holes abandoned by other birds.

Occasionally, the chickadee will also sleep on a sheltered branch.

Close up of a Carolina chickadee perched on a tree branch

Nest Construction

How do Carolina chickadees build their nests?

Carolina chickadees begin nest construction by excavating a cavity in rotting wood - usually beginning with a small, naturally occurring hole that the birds enlarge. Once the entrance hole is large enough, the female begins collecting nest material for the interior.

Occasionally, nests contain 2 separate nest cups. When this occurs, the female sometimes alternates between the two; other times, the second nest goes unused.

What do Carolina chickadees use for nesting?

The base of a Carolina chickadee nest is typically moss, occasionally covered with strips of bark. Nests are thickly lined with plant fiber and animal hair.

Many types of fur are found in chickadee nests, including white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbit, raccoon, opossum, squirrel, and domestic animal hair such as cow or cat.

Do male or female Carolina chickadees build the nest?

Both the male and female select and excavate the nest site. However, females typically perform the majority of cavity excavations. Once the cavity is complete, it is also the female that gathers interior nesting materials.

The male will accompany her but rarely assists in material gathering or nest construction.

Female Carolina chickadees do most of the cavity excavation work

Carolina chickadee Eggs

What do Carolina chickadee eggs look like?

Carolina chickadee eggs are typically ovate to rounded-ovate and average 12.7-15.9 mm in length and 10.4-12.7 mm in width. They are matte white with spots or blotches of reddish-brown concentrated at the larger end.

How many eggs do Carolina chickadees lay?

Clutch size varies significantly amongst Carolina chickadee populations. One female may lay 3-10 eggs per brood.

Do male Carolina chickadees sit on eggs?

The male Carolina chickadee does not sit on eggs. Only the female incubates, during which period the male will bring her food.

Carolina chickadee feeding on a sunflower seed

Fledgling and Parental Care

When do baby Carolina chickadees leave the nest?

Baby Carolina chickadees typically leave the nest 16 to 19 days after hatching. All nestlings do not necessarily fledge at the same time. There may be as many as three days between the first and last fledgling chick.

Young Carolina chickadees are not independent of their parents for another 2 to 3 weeks after first leaving the nest.

How many broods do Carolina chickadees have?

Carolina chickadees usually produce one brood per breeding season. Once the first chicks fledge in June, there is little time for a second clutch. However, a chickadee pair may produce a second brood if the first is unsuccessful.

Close up of a recently fledged Carolina chickadee chick

FAQs

Do Carolina chickadees abandon their nests?

Carolina chickadees are most likely to abandon their nests during the construction process, but only if disturbed. Potential disturbances include predators, competition from other birds, or excessive human activity.

Do Carolina chickadees nest on the ground?

Carolina chickadees do not nest on the ground; they strictly nest in cavities excavated in rotted wood. This species prefers hardwoods for nesting but occasionally excavates pine or woody shrubs.

Where do Carolina chickadees nest at night?

During nesting season, Carolina chickadees nest with their young at night. Outside of this period, individuals will sleep in various naturally occurring cavities, holes excavated by other birds, or on sheltered tree branches.

How to attract nesting Carolina chickadees?

Putting up a nest box (or nest tube) is a great way to attract a breeding Carolina chickadee pair. The box should have an interior floor measuring 4x4 inches and a small 1 ⅛ inch entrance placed 6 to 8 inches from the floor.