Carolina Chickadee

© Brian E Kushner Nikon D800, Nikon 300 F/4, Nikon TC-14E II

John James Audubon named this bird while he was in South Carolina. The curious, intelligent Carolina Chickadee looks very much like a Black-capped Chickadee, with a black cap, black bib, gray wings and back, and whitish underside. Carolina and Black-capped chickadees hybridize in the area where their ranges overlap, but the two species probably diverged more than 2.5 million years ago.

Carolina Chickadee - 10 February 2013 - Wake County N.C., NC. Photo by David Bell

Carolina Chickadee flying and landing on branch with snow in the background.

Very similar to the Black-capped Chickadee, this bird replaces it in the southeastern states. Living in milder climates, it has been reported to be less of a visitor to bird feeders, but it does come...

Photo about Singing Carolina chickadee on pine tree branch with pine cone. Image of evergreen, cone, avian - 42625454

A black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is a very tiny bird. Close views like the one above give the avian a somewhat larger feel. The close crop is due to the extreme nearness of the bird. Also, to the right of the bird's rump is a strongly out-of-focus chestnut-backed chickadee.