WESTERN BIRDS Chickadee 



bobbing along in their short flight from tree to tree, 

 hanging upside down when necessary, building in holes, 

 and, in short, doing all the things done by their eastern 

 cousins. 



GENUS PENTHESTES : CHESTNUT- 

 BACKED CHICKADEE. 



Chestnut-Backed Chickadee: Penthestes rufescens. 

 FAMILY— TITMICE. 



From Alaska south to California and east to western 

 Montana is found the Chestnut-sided Chickadee, a bird 

 differing from the others in his rich chestnut uppers and 

 brownish markings on head and throat, separated by a 

 small patch of white. 



These birds are often found in the same flock as the 

 Oregon Chickadee and other small species that forage 

 together. In habits they differ little from other Chick- 

 adees. The call note is given as a lisping the-the-the- 

 te-te. Dawson says this midget says kissadee, rather 

 than chickadee. He also accredits the bird with a real 

 song which consists of a series of notes as monotonous 

 as those of the Chipping Sparrow. Chick, chick, chick, 

 chick, chick, chick. He says that perhaps by another 

 performer each note may be given a double character 

 and sound like the snipping of barber's shears, as 

 Chulip, chulip, chulip, chulip, chulip. 



In northern California, a bird similar to this one but 

 having sides and flanks light grayish, is called the Cali- 

 fornia Chickadee (P. r. neglectus. Ridgw.). 



To the visitor in the mountains is left the pleasure of 

 hunting up these various species. Surely it will be worth 

 while for life in the mountains is always delightful, and 

 the pursuit of a new species more than fascinating. 



335 



