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Carolina Chickadee Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay Library New Jersey, May 13, 2012

Song
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Maryland, May 14, 1997Recorded by Wil Hershberger | Macaulay Library
Song
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Texas, May 13, 1993Recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller | Macaulay Library
Calls
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Indiana, May 28, 1992Recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller | Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

Often a four-note whistle. One pattern is fee-bee-fee-bay with first and third notes higher in pitch, but at least 35 other songs heard.

Calls

The Carolina Chickadee’s version of the chickadee-dee-dee is more rapid than the comparable sound produced by Black-capped Chickadees. Carolina Chickadees also produce a wide variety of gargles and raspy notes. A very high-pitched seee warns of falcons or accipiters flying over.

Other Sounds

Sometimes Carolina Chickadees make an audible wing whir as they fly over a potential predator or a rival chickadee. It’s not clear whether this has a communicative purpose. When an intruder approaches an incubating female on her nest, she will both hiss and bang her head and feathers against the nest and cavity.

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Black-capped Chickadee Adult is similar to Carolina Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch Adult is similar to Carolina Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

Blackpoll Warbler Breeding male is similar to Carolina Chickadee

Blackpoll Warbler

Species in This Family

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice(Order: Passeriformes, Family:Paridae)

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadee

Mountain Chickadee

Mountain Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Boreal Chickadee

Boreal Chickadee

Bridled Titmouse

Bridled Titmouse

Juniper Titmouse

Juniper Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse

Black-crested Titmouse

Black-crested Titmouse

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Browse Species in This Family

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Carolina Chickadee

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