SUPPLEMENT TO BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY jy^ 



*3i9 [740b] Penthestes hudsonicus nigricans C. W. Townsend. 



Labrador Chickadee. 

 Accidental visitor from the North. 



Although this race has not yet been recognized by the American Ornitholo- 

 gists' Union, I have taken the liberty of introducing it here. 



On July 23, 1915, at the head of Shekatika Inlet in Canadian Labrador I 

 collected the type-specimen of this race to which I gave the subspecific name 

 nigricans. I described it in "The Auk "^ and remarked that "the short, stout 

 bill and dark back almost devoid of brown tint as well as the absence of a strong 

 brown tint on the sides make this a well marked subspecies." There the matter 

 rested until a little over a year later, when, in the fall of 19 16, there appeared an 

 invasion of this Labrador form of Hudsonian Chickadee throughout New Eng- 

 land and even into New York and New Jersey. I was indeed fortunate in having 

 this race return my visit and confirm the truth of the discovery !- 



On November 5, 1916, at Castle Hill, Ipswich, I found three Hudsonian 

 Chickadees which seemed to me to belong to the Labrador race. At the first 

 opportunity, which was on December 10, I collected two of these birds whose 

 numbers had then reached seven. These two were plainly the Labrador Chick- 

 adee. Later I collected two more at Ipswich, one at Belmont, and one at Arling- 

 ton, and had five others sent me taken at Harvard, Lexington, Belmont, Staten 

 Island, N. Y., and Plainfield, N. J. All were of the nigricans type. The migra- 

 tion was a large and extensive one as a reference to the articles quoted will show. 

 I saw these birds at Ipswich as late as March 11, 1917. 



In the field the Labrador Chickadee is distinguished from the Acadian Chick- 

 adee by being distinctly dusky instead of brown on the back. The mouse-colored 

 cap is generally clearly differentiated from the back which is not so dark and is 

 generally a noticeable field-mark. It appears to be a more silent bird and more 

 secretive in its ways, whereas the Acadian Chickadee, like our common Black- 

 capped Chickadee, is very tame and familiar. 



1 Townsend, C. W. Auk, vol. 33. p. 74, 1916. 



- Townsend, C. W. " The Labrador Chickadee in a southward migration," Auk, vol. 34, 

 p. 160-163, 1917- 



Wright, H. W. " Labrador Chickadee in Boston and vicinity in the fall of 1916," Auk, 

 vol. 34, p. 164-170, 1917. " Labrador Chickadee in its return flight," Auk, vol. 35, p. 37-40, 

 1918. 



