212 



FAMILY — PARIDiB. TITMICE. 



The Titmice are birds of wide distribution in the northern hemisphere 

 and are as familiar to European residents as to us. They are small birds 

 with rather short but comparatively strongly arched bills (Figure 66, 

 p. 28). Their plumage characters are usually easily recognized. 



731. Tufted Titmouse. Bceolophua bicolor. L, 6. The largest of our Titmice and 

 without the characteristic Chickadee colouring. All above, an almost even stone-grey; 

 white below shghtly washed on flanks with rufous. A distinct almost Blue Jay-like 

 crest. 



Distinctions. The plain grey and immarked coloration with striking crest are 

 unmistakable distinctions and field marks. Its common note a loud clear Peetle-peetle — 

 peetle is most characteristic but is very like one of the phrases of the Orchard Oriole. 



Nesting. In old woodpecker's holes, stumps, etc., in nest of leaves, moss, strips of 

 bark, feathers, etc. 



Distribution. Southern and eastern United States north to and just touching 

 Canadian boundaries in the lower Great Lakes region. 



The only Canadian records for the Tufted Titmouse are two noted 

 on Pelee point in southern Ontario in the western Lake Erie country. 

 It is rather common on the Michigan side of Detroit river and even 

 on Grosse isle in midstream and should eventually be found on the Cana- 

 dian side of the river though as yet we have no record of its occurrence there. 



735. Black-capped Chickadee, chickadee, fr. — la mesange a tIite noir. 

 Penthestes atricapillus. L, 5-27. PlateXLVIIA. 



Distinctions. This species can be mistaken in eastern Canada only for the Brown- 

 headed Chicadee but is a far commoner and more generally distributed species. 



Field Marks. The Chickadee is all field mark. Its shape, a roimd bundle of feathers 

 with tail and hardly any neck, its sprightly habit, its penchant for hanging upside down 

 while investigating the very tips of twigs, its colours, a black cap and throat, white cheeks, 

 and soft grey back, and its note Chick-a dee-dee in which its name is so plainly pronounced, 

 all proclaim its species on the instant. 



Nesting. In old stumps, holes in trees, etc., in nest of moss, grasses, feathers, and 

 plant-down. 



Distribution. As a species, from about the centre of the United States north to the 

 tree limits; the Black-capped Chickadee occurs from a little south of the Canadian line 

 north, extending west to the prairie provinces where its place is taken by aUied subspecies. 



SUBSPECIES. Like other dominant and wide ranging species the Black-capped 

 Chickadee under the various conditions of the continent divides in North America into 

 several recognizable geographic races or subspecies. In eastern Canada there is only one 

 form, the type of the species, the Eastern Chickadee. To the south occurs the Carolina 

 Chickadee P. carolinensis, a closely allied but distinct species that may be looked for as 

 accidental in the lower Great Lakes region, as it has been taken in Michigan immediately 

 over the bomidary. The specific distinctions, however, are too slight to be accurately 

 defined here and records can only be based on specimens. 



Of all the birds of field or woods the Chickadee is the cheeriest and 

 merriest. The Chickadee is often the centre of a little host of mixed 

 species of Warblers, Vireos, Kinglets, Nuthatches, and an occasional 

 Downy Woodpecker and Brown Creeper. After the migrants have left 

 for the winter the hardier ones remain casually together off and on 

 until the spring breeding scatters the good-natured little com- 

 pany. The Chickadee has another song composed of only two notes of 

 rather high register clear and whistle-like. The first is prolonged and 

 the second shorter about two tones lower and has been translated as 

 "Spring's here". 



