THE OREGON CHICKADEE. 275 



No. 107. 



OREGON CHICKADEE. 



A. O. U. No. 735 b. Penthestes atricapilliis occidentaiis (BairdJ. 



Synonym. — W'kstkrx P>lack-c.\pped Ciiick.xdee. 



Description. — Adults: Similar to P. atricapiUns but smaller and coloration 

 much darker : whitish edging on wings and tail much reduced in area ; "back 

 varying from deep mouse-gray or very slight buffy slate-gray in spring and 

 summer to deep hair-brown or light olive in fall and winter plumage" ; sides and 

 flanks pale buft'y in spring, strong brownish buff or pale wood-brown in fall 

 plumage. Length 4.50-5.25 (114.3-133.3~) : wing 2.44 (62): tail 2.20 (56); bill 

 ■Z7 '9-5 > : tarsus .66 (16.8). 



Recognition Marks. — \\'arbler size; no white stripe over eye as dis- 

 tinguished from P. i/aiiibcli: back gray as distinguished from P. ntfesccns. 



Nesting. — Xcst: as in P. atricapilliis, usually placed low in stump of decidu- 

 ous tree. Eggs: as in foregoing. Season: April i5-]^Iay 15: one brood. 



General Range. — Pacific Coast district from northern California to British 

 Columbia (Port Moody). 



Range in Washington. — Resident west of Cascades; characteristic of wet 

 lowlands and borders of streams ; intergrades with typiciis on east slopes of 

 Cascade Range. 



Authorities. — Panis occidentaiis Baird, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 

 pt. II. 1S58. p. 3<ji. I T. ) C&S. Rh. D'. Kb. Ra. D-\ ? Ss'. ? Ss-'. Kk. B. E. 



Specimens. — U. of W. P'. Prov. B. E. 



CHICKADEES abound in ^\'ashington; and, because for the life of you 

 \^ou cannot surely tell whose notes yoti hear, there is a perennial necessity for 

 levelling the glasses to make sure which is passing, Oregon or the Chestnut- 

 backed. There are differences — Oh, bless you, yes — but then you always 

 want to make certain, if only to pat yourself on the back and say, when you 

 happen to have guessed correctly, "There, I knew it was an Oregon ; I can 

 always tell by its scjueak." 



Chickadees are friendly little fi)lk (and this remark apiilies, irrespective 

 of species), so that where\-er they go, except in the busy nesting season, they 

 form the nucleus of a merry band, ^^'estern Golden-crowned Kinglets. Sitkan 

 Kinglets, Creepers, Juncoes, Towliees ma}be, and a Seattle \\'ren or two to 

 guard the terrestrial passage, and to furnish sport for the federated fairies. 

 The Chickadees are undis])uled leaders, tho their name be legion. While thev 

 remain aloft we may mistake their dainty squeakings and minikin wavs for 

 those of Kinglets, but if we can only determine what direction the flock is 

 pursuing, we may count on the vanguard's being ciimposed of these sprightly, 

 saucy little Black-caps. 



