THE OREGON CHICKADEE. 275 



No. 107. 



OREGON CHICKADEE. 



A. O. L'. No. 735 b. Penthestes atricapillus occidentaiis ( I'.aircl). 



Synonym. — Wi:sTi:u.\ Hlack-capped Chick adke. 



Description. — .-iditlfs: Similar to P. atricapillus but .siuallcr and coloration 

 much darker ; whitish edging on wings and tail much reduced in area : "back 

 varying from deep mouse-gray or very slight bufty slate-gray in Sjjring and 

 summer to deep hair-brown or light olive in fall and winter plumage" ; sides and 

 flanks pale bufty 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 

 •Z7 (^9-5); tarsus .66 (16.8). 



Recognition Marks. — \\'arblcr size : no white striijc over eye as dis- 

 tinguished from P. ganibcli: 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 tvpicus on cast slojjes of 

 Cascade Range. 



Authorities. — Purus uccidciitalis liaird, Baird, Rep. i'ac. R. R. Surv. IX. 

 pt. ir. 185.^, p. 301. (T.) C&S. Rh. D'. Kb. Ra. D^ ? Ss'. ? Ss-'. Kk. 15. E. 



Specimens. — U. of W. P'. Prov. V>. E. 



CHICKADEES abound in Washington; and. because for the life of _\ou 

 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 - 

 Iiacked. 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, wlien you 

 happen to have guessed correctly. "There, T knew it was an Oregon; T can 

 always tell by its squeak." 



Chickadees are friendly little folk (and this remark apjih'es. irrespective 

 of species), so that wherever they go. except in the busy nesting season, thev 

 form the nucleus of a merry band. Western Golden-crowned Kinglets, Sitkan 

 Kinglets. Creepers. Juncoes, Towhees maybe, and a Settle 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 thev 

 remain aloft we may mistake their dainty squeakings and minikin wavs for 

 those of Kinglets, but if \vc can only determine what direction the flock is 

 pursuing, we may count on the vanguard's being composed of these s])rightly, 

 saucy little Rlack-caps. 



