What does the Carolina Chickadee song sound like?

Poecile carolinensis

Song Common Resident

Play the real Carolina Chickadee song, the "fee-bee-fee-bay", and learn what to listen for.

“fee-bee-fee-bay”

What the Carolina Chickadee song sounds like

A clear, whistled four-note song with the pattern high-low-high-lower. This differs from the Black-capped Chickadee's simpler two-note 'fee-bee' song. Most frequently heard in late winter and spring during territory establishment.

“fee-bee-fee-bay”

Birders often file this one under Primary Song.

How to find the bird singing it

Found in deciduous and mixed forests, wooded residential areas, parks, gardens, and swamps throughout the southeastern United States. Their range extends from New Jersey and Pennsylvania west to Kansas and south to Florida and Texas, with a gap in the Appalachian Mountains where they're replaced by Black-capped Chickadees.

Head & Face: Black cap and bib with clean white cheeks. The border between the black bib and the white breast is relatively clean-cut (compared to the more ragged edge on Black-capped Chickadees).
Bill: Short, stout black bill used for capturing insects and cracking seeds.
Breast & Underparts: White breast and belly with buffy or rusty-brown wash on the flanks.

When you'll hear it

Spring

Breeding season begins; winter flocks break up into pairs. Males sing frequently and pairs establish territories. Nest building and egg-laying occur. Plumage is slightly worn from winter but still distinct.

Summer

Nesting and chick-rearing season. Family groups with fledglings become visible. Adults may appear worn by late summer. Focus shifts to insect foraging for growing young.

Fall

Family groups begin to form winter flocks with neighboring families. Increased activity at feeders as birds begin storing food for winter. Fresh plumage after fall molt.

Winter

Form small flocks of 8-10 birds with strict dominance hierarchies. More reliant on seeds and stored food. Often seen with mixed-species foraging flocks including titmice, nuthatches, and woodpeckers.

Don’t confuse it with

Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.

Black-capped Chickadee

Slightly larger with a more ragged border between black bib and white breast

Tufted Titmouse

Larger with a prominent crest

Carolina Chickadee song FAQ

What does a Carolina Chickadee song sound like?

How do I tell a Carolina Chickadee from a Black-capped Chickadee by ear?

Black-capped Chickadee: Slightly larger with a more ragged border between black bib and white breast; Shows more white edging on wing feathers in fresh plumage.

When is the best time to hear the Carolina Chickadee song?

Active year-round during daylight hours. Form small flocks in winter, which break up into breeding pairs in spring. Can enter torpor (a state of decreased physiological activity) during extremely cold nights to conserve energy.

More Carolina Chickadee sounds

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