222 Birds of Pennsylvania. 



735. Parus atricapillus (Linn.). 



Chickadee. ^V 



Dksorivtidn. {Plate 47.) 



Length about 5^ inclu-s ; exteut about 8 inches ; bill black ; legs bluisli gray ; 

 iris brown. Back brownish ashy ; top of head, chin and throat black ; sides of 

 head white; beneath whiteish ; brownisli on sides; wing ami tail feathers more or 

 less margined with wliite. 



Ihtb. — Kaslern North America, nortli of the Potomac and Ohio A' alleys. 



Common resident; found in all localities, but during the summer 

 these birds are usually seen in woods and thickets, from which in win- 

 ter they often come about houses, or, in small flocks, frequent weedy 

 places in fields and swamps in searcli of food. The common name 

 arises from their familiar note of chick-a-dee-dee. These birds some- 

 times nest in natural cavities, but generally Woodpecker-like, they 

 excavate holes in trees, stumps, etc., in which they build a nest of 

 hair, feathers, moss, fine dried grasses or other soft materials. The 

 eggs, mostly 6 or 7, sometimes more, are white, spotted or dotted 

 chiefly about the larger end with reddish-brown ; measure about .60 

 long by .50 wide. The Chickadee feeds on different forms of insect 

 life and seeds of various weeds, grass and other plants. Crumbs of 

 bread, pieces of meat, fragments of apples, pears and other fruits are 

 also eaten. 



Family SYLVIID.^. Kinglets, Etc. 

 Subfamily REGULIN.5;. Kinglets. 

 Gentts REGULXJS. Cuvier. 

 748. Regulus satrapa. Light. 



(iokleii-frowuod Kinglet. 



Besckii'tion. (Plate 4s.) 



Length about 4 ; extent about fi.. 50 ; legs brownish-yellow; feet yellowisli ; bill 

 black ; iris brown. Upper parts olive-green ; wings and tail dusky, edged with yel- 

 low'ish ; crown (adult male) bordered in front, also on sides w^ith black, embracing 

 a central patch of fiery orange-red encircled b^' yellow. The female lias no Ihxme- 

 colored patch; crown is entirely yellow, margined witlv lihuk ; wing and tail 

 feathers edged with yellowish ; lower parts dull Avhitish. 



Ha/j. — North America generally, breeding in the northern and elevated jjarts of 

 the United States, and northward, migrating south in Avinter to Guatemahi. 



Common winter resident from about the middle of October to the 

 middle of April. This species is most numerous in October, Novem- 

 ber, March and April, or when migrating south and north. The Golden- 

 crowned Kinglet frequents the tops of tall forest trees as well as low 

 bushes, and frequently, particularly when migrating in the spring and 

 fall, is found, in company with the Ruby-crowned Kinglet (li. calen- 



