The small bird that looks similar to the black-capped chickadee is most likely the Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis). The Carolina chickadee is a small songbird found in the southeastern United States that closely resembles the more widespread black-capped chickadee. While the two species look nearly identical, there are a few key differences in appearance and behavior that can help identify the Carolina chickadee.
Appearance
The Carolina chickadee is a tiny bird, measuring only 4.5-5.5 inches in length and weighing about 0.3 ounces. Here is a comparison of the appearance of the Carolina chickadee vs the black-capped chickadee:
Feature | Carolina Chickadee | Black-capped Chickadee |
---|---|---|
Size | 4.5-5.5 inches | 5-6 inches |
Wingspan | 6.5-8.5 inches | 7.5-9.5 inches |
Weight | 0.3 ounces | 0.4 ounces |
Cap color | Light gray | Black |
Cheeks | White | Black |
Throat | White | Black |
Breast | Buff colored | White |
As you can see, the Carolina chickadee is very slightly smaller than the black-capped chickadee. The main difference is in the coloration – the Carolina has a light gray cap and white cheeks/throat, while the black-capped has an obvious black cap and black cheeks/throat. The Carolina also has a buff-colored breast, whereas the black-capped has a white breast.
Song and Calls
The vocalizations of the Carolina chickadee are very similar to those of the black-capped chickadee, but they have a faster cadence and higher pitch. The most common call is a repeated “chick-a-dee-dee” sound. The song is a whistled “fee-bee fee-bay” that goes up and down in pitch. Here is a comparison:
Vocalization | Carolina Chickadee | Black-capped Chickadee |
---|---|---|
Call | Fast “chick-a-dee-dee” | Slower “chick-a-dee-dee” |
Song | High, whistled “fee-bee fee-bay” | Lower, whistled “hey-sweetie” |
The Carolina chickadee’s song and call are higher pitched and faster paced compared to the black-capped. This takes some practice to discern, but can help distinguish the two species.
Range and Habitat
The range and preferred habitat of these two chickadees also differs:
Feature | Carolina Chickadee | Black-capped Chickadee |
---|---|---|
Range | Southeastern U.S. | Northern and central U.S. |
Habitat | Open woodlands | Deciduous and mixed forests |
The Carolina chickadee is found exclusively in the southeastern United States, ranging from southern Missouri to New Jersey and south to Florida and Texas. The black-capped chickadee occupies a more northern range across Canada and the northern two-thirds of the continental U.S. In terms of habitat, the Carolina chickadee prefers more open, drier woodlands and parklands, while the black-capped chickadee sticks to deciduous and mixed forests, especially those with conifers. Paying attention to where you see the bird can help clue you in to which species it is.
Behavior
The behavior of these two chickadees is also somewhat different:
Behavior | Carolina Chickadee | Black-capped Chickadee |
---|---|---|
Social | Usually solitary or in pairs | Travels in flocks |
Foraging | Tends to feed lower in trees | Forages in canopy and near trunks |
Winter | Does not cache food | Creates winter caches |
The Carolina chickadee is generally more solitary, usually traveling just in pairs or family groups. The black-capped is highly social, traveling in large flocks especially in winter. When foraging, Carolina chickadees prefer lower branches and leaves while black-capped chickadees will venture high up into treetops. And unlike black-capped chickadees, Carolina chickadees do not create winter food caches.
Conclusion
In summary, the small bird that resembles a black-capped chickadee is most likely the Carolina chickadee. While the two species appear almost identical, the Carolina chickadee can be identified by its smaller size, lighter gray cap, buff-colored breast, higher pitched vocalizations, southeastern range, preference for open woods, and more solitary behavior. Paying close attention to these subtle differences in appearance, song, habitat, and behavior will help correctly identify whether you’ve spotted a Carolina chickadee or black-capped chickadee. Proper identification may require seeing the bird up close and spending some time observing its behavior patterns. With practice, chickadee aficionados can quickly recognize the distinctions between these two similar songbirds.