At a Glance
- The Carolina Chickadee is the year-round resident of Central Texas.
- It weighs just over a third of an ounce and measures less than 5 inches.
- In winter its diet is 50 % seeds/fruits and 50 % insects/spiders.
- Why it matters: Spotting this common bird can deepen your connection to local wildlife.
The January bird forecast from Travis Audubon highlights the Carolina Chickadee, one of Central Texas’s most vocal backyard residents.
Appearance
The Carolina Chickadee is a tiny, energetic bird with a black cap, white cheek patch, and gray back and wings. Both sexes look alike, though males are slightly heavier and have longer tails. The bird’s rounded head and short neck give it a plump, lively appearance.
Habitat & Foraging
- Found in river and creekside hardwood forests, mixed pine-hardwood stands, and swampy eastern Texas woods.
- Prefers trees with cavities, dead snags, and layers of shrubs for nesting.
- Rarely forages on the ground; prefers twigs less than 1 cm in diameter.
Diet & Behavior
| Season | Animal Food | Plant Food |
|---|---|---|
| Spring/Summer/Fall | 80-90 % | 10-20 % |
| Winter | 50 % | 50 % |
- A stomach-content study of 210 birds found 62 % insect matter, mainly caterpillars, 10 % spiders, and 28 % plant material.
- Chickadees cache foods year-round, storing seeds and insects on small branches, twigs, and under leaves, usually within 130 ft of a feeder.
- Cached seeds are retrieved on average after one hour, all within a few days.
- Dr. Doug Tallamy reports chickadees need 6,000-9,000 caterpillars to raise one brood; native plants are the best host.
Key Takeaways
- The Carolina Chickadee is Central Texas’s resident bird, easy to spot and identify.
- Its diet shifts from primarily insects in warmer months to a 50/50 mix of seeds and animals in winter.
- Chickadees are prolific cacheers and rely heavily on native plants for breeding success.
By Hannah E. Clearwater | News Of Austin
