HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE 83 



that of the Creeper. The young, which are found in little 

 companies in late July and August, lack the head-markings 

 of the adult ; they may be recognized by their small size and 

 by their lisping notes, identical with those of their parents. 



NUTHATCHES AND TITS : FAMILY PARIDiE 



Two Nuthatches and three Tits or Chickadees occur in 

 New York and New England. The White-bellied Nut- 

 hatch and the common or Black-capped Chickadee are found 

 everywhere ; the Hudsonian Chickadee is confined to north- 

 ern New York and New England ; the Tufted Tit does not 

 regularly occur north of New York city. Nuthatches fly in 

 undulations something after the manner of Woodpeckers. 



Hudsoxian Chickadee. Parus hudsonicus 

 5.35 

 Ad. — Top of head brownish] back brownish-gray; throat 

 black, separated from the brown by a stripe of white ; breast and 

 middle of belly white ; side of belly reddish-brown. 



Nest, in holes in trees. Eggs, spotted with reddish-brown. 



The Hudsonian Chickadee is a permanent resident of the 

 extensive spruce forests on the higher mountains of New 

 Hampshire and Vermont, in the Adirondack^ and in north- 

 ern and eastern Maine. In summer it is confined in the 

 White and Green Mountains to the spruce belt above 3000 

 feet, but in autumn it wanders down into the valleys, in 

 company with migrating warblers. In winter a few occasion- 

 ally wander southward ; small flocks have been observed 

 on Mount Greylock in Massachusetts, and stragglers occa- 

 sionally occur even in eastern Massachusetts. Its habits 

 are very similar to those of the common Chickadee ; in fact, 

 the two not infrequently wander about together. Bones or 

 bits of meat left about logging camps in winter are equally 

 attractive to either species. 



