THE CHICKADEE. 273 
summer in our mountains and in British Columbia, are enjoying sunshine in 
Mexico, this Alaskan coast dweller is re-dyeing his plumage under the dull 
skies of the Pacific watershed. 
The Sitkan Kinglet is not abundant in winter, altho it enjoys a general 
distribution. It does not associate in flocks of its own kind to any large extent, 
but oftener two or three individuals join themselves to winter bird troops 
consisting of Chickadees, Seattle Wrens, Western Golden-crowned Kinglets, 
Puget Sound Bush-Tits, ete. At such times it is noticeable that they keep 
largely to the lower levels, for they hunt and titter among the spirzea thickets, 
salal bushes, logs and evergreen saplings, while their cousins only occasionally 
venture within five or ten feet of the ground, and range from there to the 
tops of the tallest firs. 
The notes, too, of the Sitkan Kinglet are low-pitched and explosive, as 
compared with the fairy sibilations of the Golden-crowns. The neighborhood 
of “Seattle”? Wrens and Western Winter Wrens will serve also to throw a 
certain wren-like quality. of the Alaskan’s note into fine relief. 
No. 106. 
CHICKADEE. 
A. O. U. No. 735. Penthestes atricapillus (Linn.). 
Synonyms.—B1LaAck-CAPPED CHICKADEE. BLACK-CAPPED TITMOUSE. 
Description.—Adult: Top of head and nape shining black; throat dead 
black with whitish skirting posteriorly ; a white band on side of head and neck, 
increasing in width behind; back and scapulars gray with an olivaceous cast and 
more or less admixture of buffy at the edges and as skirting; wings and tail dusky, 
more or less edged, especially on greater coverts and tertials, with ashy or whitish; 
breast and belly white; sides, flanks and crissum washed with buffy or light rusty 
(nearly whitish in summer) ; bill and feet dark. Rather variable in size ;.one adult 
specimen measures: wing 2.27 (57.7); tail 2.10 (53.3) ; bill .34 (8.6). Another: 
wing 2.70 (68.6) ; tail 2.57 (65.3) ; bill.38 (9.7). Length, 4.75-5.75 (120.6-146.1) ; 
average of eight specimens of medium size: wing 2.60 (66); tail 2.44 (62) ; bill 
F20))(0:1).. 
Recognition Marks.—Warbler size; of lighter coloration but not certainly 
distinguishable afield from P. a. occidentalis (q. v.). 
Nesting.—Nest: a heavy mat of moss, grasses, and plant-down, lined with 
rabbits’ fur, wool, hair, or feathers, in made hole or natural cavity of stump or 
tree, usually not over ten feet from the ground, and near water. Eggs: 5-8, 
white, marked sparingly with reddish brown, in small spots, tending to gather 
about larger end. Av. size, .58x.47 (14.7x 11.9). Season: April 15-May 15; 
one brood. 
