THE MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE. 279 



or three feet. The near presence of water is a prime requisite, and a low 

 swampy woods is the favorite location. Sometimes a deserted nest of a 

 Gairdner Woodpecker may be used; but, on the other hand, excavations 

 may be made in green wood at no little cost of e.xertion on the part of 

 the midgets. Several nests I have seen in willow and poplar trees, and at 

 a height of fifteen or twentv feet. 



Young Chickadees are such cunning little creatures that the temptation 

 to fondle them is sometimes irresistible. The parents may have very 

 decided views as to the propriety of such action, or they may regard you 

 as some benevolent giant whose ways are above suspicion. Not infrequentlv, 

 if tlie }-oung are kindly treated, the parent bird will venture upon the hand 

 or shoulder to pursue its necessary offices. 



No. 108. 



MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE. 



A. O. U. No. 738. Penthestes gambeli (Ridgway). 



Description. — .Idiilts in spriiiy and sninincr: Somewhat as in P. atricapillus, 

 head and throat similar hut black interrupted by strong white superciliary stripe 

 nearly or quite meeting fellow on forehead ; upperparts plain deep ashy gray, 

 or mouse-gra)- ; wings and tail deeper gray with some pale grayish edging ; sides 

 of head and neck white; underparts (except throat) dull white more or less 

 washed on sides, flanks, and under tail-coverts with gray, .-idiilts in fall and 

 zvintcr: Upperparts washed with buffy ; brownish on sides; some white edging 

 on forehead and superciliary stripe broader. Young birds are duller as to black 

 of head and neck, and have a less distinct superciliary. Length about 5.00 (127) ; 

 wing 2.-^ (70) ; tail 2.35 (60) ; bill .40 ( 10.2) ; tarsus .70 (18). 



Recognition Marks. — \\'arbler size ; much like Oregon Chickadee, but white 

 superciliary distinctive; range higher (on the average) than other species. 



Nesting. — Nest: quite as in atrical^illiis and similarly situated. Eggs: 5-8, 

 pure zchitr. or only faintly marked with reddish brown. Av. size, .60 x .45 ( 15.2 x 

 11.4). Season: I\ I ay ; one brood. 



General Range. — Mountains of western United States Irom the Rockies to 

 the Pacific Coast; north to British Columbia (chiefly east of the Cascades) ; south 

 to northern Lower California. 



Range in Washington. — Resident in the mountains and timbered foothills, 

 chiefly east of the (Cascade) divide: casual at Seattle. 



Authorities. — ["Mountain Chickadee" Johnson, Rep. Gov. W. T. 1884 

 (885), p. 22.] [Parns niontaniis. Gambel, Cooper and Suckley, Rep. Pac. R. R. 

 Surv. XII. i860, p. 194. "Fort Dalles" ( Baird, "Fort Dalles, Oregon"). Not a 

 valid Washington record.] Parns qaiuhdi Lawrence, Auk, Vol. IX. Tan. 1892, 

 p. 47- C&S. L-. D'. D^ J. 



Specimens. — L^. of W. Prov. C. 



