Presumed Carolina Chickadee–one of two birds present in my yard in early January with very little or no white in secondaries and wing coverts, gray hind portion of cheek patch, and small neat black bib.
Carolina Chickadee 1 Jan 2014
Area: Traditionally, Carolina Chickadees were thought to inhabit the very southern portion of Hunterdon County, with the rest of the county inhabited by Black-capped Chickadees. In reality, there is probably a pretty extensive hybrid zone through much of the county, and many chickadees are probably of mixed heritage.
Yard: Most of the chickadees in my yard sing Black-capped Songs, but do not seem as bright as typical Black-capped Chickadees and may actually be hybrids. Every once and a while I see or hear a chickadee that seems to match Carolina.
