NUTHATCHES AND TITS 



457 



Distribution. — Resident from the Sierra Nevada to Colorado, and south 

 to New Mexico and Arizona. 



1 ITMOL'SE. 



:rav : sides of head 



Fig. 583. 



734. ParUS WOUweberi {Bonap.). Bridled 

 Adults. — Throat and crest black ; crown patch 



white, marked or bridled with black ; back olive 

 gray ; under parts dingy wliitish. Youny : simi- 

 lar, but throat gray, except for black on chin : 

 head markings less defined. Length : 4.50-5.00. 

 wing; 2.60-2.80, tail 2.40-2.65. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Upper Sonoran zone 

 from western Texas to southern Arizona and 

 southward to Orizaba, Mexico. 



Nest. — As described by Scott, -"U to 6 feet 

 from the ground in oaks, cavity lined with Cot- 

 tonwood down, ferns, g-rasses, and cotton waste. 

 Eggs : 5 to 7. plain white. 



The oddly marked little icollweheri is an 

 eminently social bird, ]Mr. Henshaw tells us, 

 going about, except in the nesting season, in 

 flocks of twenty-five or more. It hunts for food largely in oaks. 

 passing along more quietly than other titmice. 



Subgenus Parus. 

 Not crested. 



735. Parus atricapillus Linn. Chickadee. 



Adults. — Top of head and throat black; back ashy or olive grayish, 

 sometimes tinged with buffy ; sides butfy ; rest of under 

 parts white. Young : upper parts dark slate ; under parts 

 salmon color, faintest on breast. Length: 4.70-5.75, wing 

 2.5.5-2.75, tail 2.50-2.70. 



Distribution. — Breeds in eastern North America north of 

 the Potomac and Ohio valleys and west to western Nebraska. 

 Recorded from Fort Sherman, Idaho. 



Nest. — In holes in trees or stumps, made of moss. fur. hair, 

 times feathers. Eggs: 4 to S, white, spotted with reddish brown and lilac, 

 chiefly around larger end. 



Food. — Injurious insct-ts and their eggs, including tent-caterpillars, 

 cankerworms, and plant lice ; also seeds and small fruit. 



At Fort ShcrniiUi, Idaho, the chickadee apin-ars. strangely eiu)ugh. 

 to be practically identical with the far removed eastern black- 

 capped. 



735a. P. a. septentrionalis (Harris). Lonc-t.ailed Chickadee. 



lAki' (itrir(tj)illus. \ni\ p.ili-r ; throat, top of head, and nape black; back- 

 pule (tsh, ting»'d with brownish ; wings with white patih and edgings: tail 

 feathers edged with white ; sides of liead and under parts white ; sides and 

 flanks washed with pale biill'v. Lmifth : 4.75-(;.00, wing 2.55-2.SO, tail 

 2.55-;5.()0. 



Distribution. — From British Columbia and Lake Winnipeg south over 

 the IJocky Mountain plateau region, and east to the Plains. 



Fig. 584. 

 and some- 



