THE OREGON CHICKADEE. | 275 
No. 107. 
OREGON CHICKADEE. 
A. O. U. No. 735 b. Penthestes atricapillus occidentalis (Baird). 
Synonym.—WeESTERN BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. 
Description.—Adults: Similar to P. atricapillus but smaller and coloration 
much darker; whitish edging on wings and tail much reduced in area; “back 
varying from deep mouse-gray or very slight buffy slate-gray in spring and 
summer to deep hair-brown or light olive in fall and winter plumage”; sides and 
flanks pale buffy in spring, strong brownish buff or pale wood-brown in fall 
plumage. Length 4.50-5.25 (114.3-133.3); wing 2.44 (62); tail 2.20 (56); bill 
.37 (9.5); tarsus .66 (16.8). 
Recognition Marks.—\Warbler size; no white stripe over eye as dis- 
tinguished from P. gambeli; back gray as distinguished from P. rufescens. 
Nesting.—Nest: as in P. atricapillus, usually placed low in stump of decidu- 
ous tree. Eggs: as in foregoing. Season: April 15-May 15; one brood. 
General Range.—Pacific Coast district from northern California to British 
Columbia (Port Moody). 
Range in Washington.—Resident west of Cascades; characteristic of wet 
lowlands and borders of streams; intergrades with typicus on east slopes of 
Cascade Range. re 
Authorities——Parus occidentalis Baird, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 
prlltess, p.3or.  (1.) C&S. Rh. D*. Kb. Ra. D2, ? Sst? Ss2. Kk. B. E. 
Specimens.—U. of W. P*. Prov. B. E. 
CHICKADEES abound in Washington; and, because for the life of you 
you cannot surely tell whose notes you hear, there is a perennial necessity for 
levelling the glasses to make sure which is passing, Oregon or the Chestnut- 
backed. There are differences—Oh, bless you, yes—but then you always 
want to make certain, if only to pat yourself on the back and say, when you 
happen to have guessed correctly, “There, I knew it was an Oregon; I can 
always tell by its squeak.” 
Chickadees are friendly little folk (and this remark applies, irrespective 
of species), so that wherever they go, except in the busy nesting season, they 
form the nucleus of a merry band, Western Golden-crowned Kinglets, Sitkan 
Kinglets, Creepers, Juncoes, Towhees maybe, and a Seattle Wren or two to 
guard the terrestrial passage, and to furnish sport for the federated fairies. 
The Chickadees are undisputed leaders, tho their name be legion. While they 
remain aloft we may mistake their dainty squeakings and minikin ways for 
those of Kinglets, but if we can only determine what direction the flock is 
pursuing, we may count on the vanguard’s being composed of these sprightly, 
saucy little Black-caps. 
