G«JJ MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



The late Percy Selous observed a male at Greenville, Montcalm county, 

 February 23, 1900, but this was the only one recorded for that locality. 

 Mrs. Robert Campbell, of Jackson, noted two May 19, 1906. The species 

 is reported by one observer in Marquette county, 1901 to 1904, but it 

 seems probable that this record is based on a wrong identification; we 

 have no other record for the Upper Peninsula, and it is not known to occur 

 in Wisconsin except in the southern part of the state, and that very rarely. 



In its habits it is much hke the common Chickadee, but shows many 

 l)cculiarities of its own. According to Nehrhng, in Missouri, "They 

 scramble about among the limbs with great agility and restlessness and 

 may be often seen hanging head downward on horizontal branches and 

 trunks of trees, whilst exploring with great thoroughness every crevice 

 of the bark for insects, their eggs and larva^. They also show a liking 

 for oily seeds, particularly those of hemp and the different species of small 

 wild sunflowers. At times they will not despise berries, though they eat 

 their seeds only. They also make occasional visits to meat which has 

 been hung out in the air to dry. * * * All its notes are very loud and 

 clear, ancl uttered with whistling reverberation. During the sunny winter 

 days it shouts with all its might: 'hee-dle-dee-dle-dee-dle-dee-dle,' and 

 this is particularly the case as the mating season approaches. * * * 

 Among other notes is a loud and querulous ' pe-to-pe-to-pe-to-pe-to- 

 day-tee-day-tee,' which is especially pleasing. * * * They are ex- 

 traordinarily inquisitive, even daring to come close to the observer." 



The nest is always placed in a cavity of some kind, usually the natural 

 hollow of a tree or fence post, or a deserted woodpecker's hole. Occasion- 

 ally it nests in boxes provided for the purpose or for wrens and sw^allows. 

 The nest is built largely of w^ool, fur, hair, feathers and various soft cottony 

 substances and the eggs vary in number from five to eight, and average 

 .71 by .55 inches. They are similar to those of the other members of 

 the genus, being white, "sparingly speckled with reddish-brown. In the 

 southern states the bird rears two broods, but in Michigan it may rear 

 but one. 



Mr. A. D. Tinker found a nest in an ash, elm and maple swamp near Ann 

 Arbor, May 24, 1908. It w^as located "in the dead, broken limb of a 

 stately elm some fifty or sixty feet from the ground. An old, abandoned 

 woodpecker's cavity had been appropriated and filled, as far as could be 

 ascertained by means of a glass, with dead grasses, etc." It was found by 

 watching a female which was collecting food (various insects) and taking 

 it to the young. The nest itself was inaccessible (Auk, XXV, 1908, 323). 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult: Forehead black, entire remainder of upper i)ar(s, including wings and tail, 

 clear ash; a small white patch between the base of the upper mandible and the eye (lores); 

 tliroat, breast and belly grayish-white, often with a yellowish or brownish tinge; sides 

 chestnut; a noticeable "crest much as in the Blue Jay; bill and feet black. 



Length 5.00 to G.50 inches; wing 3 to 3.50; tail 2.80 to 3.15. Sexes alike and seasonal 

 changes slight. 



