278 



THE OREGON CHICKADEE. 



semliles the keep-in-tduch, or 



cry of the Western Golden-crowned 



Kinglet. The Chickadees employ this when in company with Kinglets, or 

 while ranging thru the tree-tops when no other sound is audible in the 

 woods. Then there is a regular squeaking trill which is oftenest prelimi- 

 nar\- to the familiar dci' dcr ih'c dec Jrc (spoken) notes, but which some- 

 times appears alone, as by suspension or change of intent. 



Of the whistled series the commonest are, first, a clearly rendered 

 Iciisiccc, not unlike the "Sweetee" theme, btit of lower pilch and more trivial 



character ; and, second, the dco 

 (li\i ilcii ilav series, already 

 recorded. There is a striking 

 resemblance between the whis- 

 tled and the spoken series. 

 The day day words correspond 

 to the dec dco whistles, altho 

 they are oftenest ])receded by 

 a fairy sneeze, which we have 

 con\'entionalized in "Chick"; 

 and there is a spoken, or rather 

 lisped, kiisi^'cw. which is very 

 charming and delicate. A 

 spoken trill occurs infre- 

 (|uentl\-, and offers its analogy 

 to l)oth whistle and squeak. 



These may seem like fine- 

 spun distinctions. They are 

 offered only to be forgotten; 

 but the enjoyment of the next 

 Chickadee troop you encounter 

 will be enhanced by an effort 

 to realize the striking variety 

 of the notes heard. 



Contrary to the wont of 

 most hole-nesting birds, the 

 Chickadee belie\'es in warm 

 lilankets. Into the chosen 

 ca\-ity, whether natural or 

 artificial, the birds lug im- 

 mense quantities of moss, wool, hair, or rabbits" fur, until the place is half 

 filled ; and the sitting bird, during the chilly days of late April and early May, 

 is snug and warm. 



Ordinarilv, a hole is dug by the birds in a rotten stub at a height of two 



Taken in Oregon. 



Photo by Bohlmoit and I'l 



A TIGHT FIT. 



YOUNG OREGON CHICKADEE EMERGING FROM NEST. 



