698 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



In summer this is the common Chickadee of southern Ilhnois and Indiana, 

 and even in the northern parts of these states it is found occasionally 

 mingled with the northern form, atricapillus. It doubtless occurs in 

 Michigan with more or less regularity, but mainly or entirely along the 

 southern border of the state. According to Dr. Gibbs, Dr. Atkins of 

 Locke, Ingham county, met with this species in that vicinity at least 

 once, but no specimen appears to have been preserved, and we do not 

 know who was the authority for its identification. Mr. B. H. Swales 

 took a specimen July 17, 1899, in a small woodland in Ecorse township, 

 Wayne county, Mich., which he believes to be the first bird of the species 

 taken in the state (Auk, XXIII, 1906, 342). G. A. Stockwell's Forest 

 and Stream list includes this species, but we do not know on what authority. 

 Dr. Miles also included it in his hst (1860). 



Probably this species will be found at rare intervals in summer through- 

 out the southern tier of counties, but in its general habits, note, nesting 

 and food it is so nearly identical with the common Chickadee that it is 

 almost sure to escape recognition except by the trained observer who is 

 familiar with the bird in the south, or by the collector who kills every 

 specimen about which he has any doubt. 



Nehrling states that in the south (Texas), where he has studied this 

 species, "The bird seems to prefer (for nesting places) hollow horizontal 

 boughs, with the orifice on one side or beneath; but if these cannot be 

 found the bird is satisfied with any cavity, provided its opening is not too 

 large. The nest always consists of a mass of very soft substances, such 

 as moss, fine bark strips, cotton, and especially hair and pieces of rabbits' 

 fur." The eggs average .57 by .45 inches, and except in size are not dis- 

 tinguishable from those of the Black-capped Chickadee. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Head without crest, its top and the throat black; no white superciliary streak; sides 

 and flanks light brownish. 



"Adult: Wing .20 inch longer than tail; tertials and greater wing-coverts without 

 distinct whitish edgings; black of throat with an abruptly defined posterior border. Above 

 uniform grayish; beneath white medially, light buffy brownish laterally (paler in summer); 

 length 4.2r) to 4.60 inches; wing 2.40 to 2.60; tail 2.10 to 2.50" (Ridgw^ay). 



315. Hudsonian Chickadee. Penthestes hudsonicus hudsonicus (Foes/.). 



(740) 



Synonyms: Hudsonian Titmouse, Hudson Bay Chickadee, Hudson Bay Titmouse. — 

 Parus hudsonicus, Forst., 1772, and most authors. — Parus hudsonicus stoneyi, A. O. U. 

 Committee. 1889. 



Figure 14<9. 



Similar in size and general coloration to the common Chickadee, but 

 the top of the head clear brown instead of black, and the stripe on the 

 side of the head pure white only in front, decidedly ash-gray on the neck. 



Distribution. — Northern North America, from the more elevated parts 

 of the northern United States (northern New England, northern New 

 York, northern Michigan, etc.) northward. 



The Hudsonian Chickadee must be counted as a rare bird in Michigan, 

 The older writers reported it as common in the Upper Peninsula, but 



