South · Mississippi Flyway
Chickadees in Tennessee
Chickadees in Tennessee come down to 2 species with regular eBird records, led by the Carolina Chickadee. Together they account for 279,171 of the 8.7 million eBird records from 2020–2024 — 3.2% of everything reported in the state.
The full list: Carolina Chickadee and Black-capped Chickadee. Chickadees are the small, round, black-capped birds that visit feeders all winter and lead the mixed flocks of nuthatches and kinglets moving through the woods. Each region has its own species, and their ranges barely overlap.
Chickadees in Tennessee: every species, most-reported first
Every chickadee with at least 25 eBird records in the state from 2020–2024, most-reported first. The status label is derived from each species’ own monthly share of all state records.
1. Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) — 278,786 records, 3.2% of the state’s eBird total; a year-round resident, reported in every month.
2. Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) — 385 records, 0.00% of the state’s eBird total; a summer visitor, present mainly from May to November and peaking in June.
When to see chickadees in Tennessee
Adding up every species’ share of state eBird records month by month, chickadees are most prominent in February, January and October and least in May and June. 1 of the 2 species is year-round — Carolina Chickadee — so there is no month without them.
Summer visitors. Black-capped Chickadee arrives around May and is mostly gone after November (peak June).
Attracting chickadees to Tennessee backyards
Black-oil sunflower seed, suet, and a nest box with a small entrance hole are the three things chickadees want. They are among the first birds to find a new feeder and among the tamest at it.
In Tennessee the chickadee most likely to turn up is the Carolina Chickadee. Its own page covers month-by-month activity and attraction tips for this state.
Chickadees in Tennessee: FAQ
How many species of chickadees are there in Tennessee?
2 species of chickadees have regular eBird records in Tennessee (at least 25 records in 2020–2024): Carolina Chickadee and Black-capped Chickadee.
What is the most common chickadee in Tennessee?
The Carolina Chickadee, with 278,786 eBird records in 2020–2024, followed by the Black-capped Chickadee with 385. It is a year-round resident, reported in every month.
When is the best time to see chickadees in Tennessee?
February, January and October, when the combined share of Tennessee eBird records belonging to chickadees is highest. Summer visitors such as the Black-capped Chickadee arrive around May.
Are there chickadees in Tennessee?
Yes. the Carolina Chickadee (278,786 eBird records, year-round) and the Black-capped Chickadee (385 eBird records, summer visitor) are regularly recorded in Tennessee.
More birds in Tennessee
Chickadees in other states
Chickadees in Tennessee: sources
Every number on this page comes from the EOD – eBird Observation Dataset published by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and distributed through GBIF under a CC BY 4.0 license: Tennessee records from 2020–2024, retrieved 2026-09-18. Species are drawn from the families Paridae; only species with at least 25 records are listed, and a species is called a year-round resident when its monthly share of state records stays above 30% of its own peak in ten or more months. “Records” are individual eBird observations, so they reflect how often birders report a species, not a population count.