504 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



margined with whitish; sides of the head and neck and under parts white; 

 sides and flanks tinged with huffy. 



Length 5.27 inches; extent 8.05; wing 2.54; tail 2.43; bill .37; tarsus .6. 



Distribution. The Chickadee inhabits the Canadian and Transition 

 zones of eastern America, from southeastern Keewatin, southern Ungava 

 and Newfoundland southward to central Missouri, northern Indiana, 

 Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in the Alleghanies to South 

 Carolina. In New York it is found in every county as a resident species 

 and is common in most portions of the State, inhabitating both the depths 

 of the woods and the groves and orchards near human habitations. 



Haunts and habits. It is, perhaps, the most fearless of all our birds, 

 especially in winter, allowing the observer to approach within a few feet, 

 and frequently taking sunflower seeds and bits of nuts from the hand or 

 from one's shoulder, and may be taught to come regularly to the window 

 sill for its supper and breakfast. Suet and oily seeds are its favorite food 

 at this season of the year. As soon as spring and summer come, he retreats 

 to the swamps and woodlands, only a few remaining in the more cultivated 

 localities. The chickadee or dee dee dee note, which is recognized by every- 

 one, may be heard at all times of the year, but more commonly in the 

 winter. In the early spring he frequently utters a whistled call like the 

 word phe-be. In actions he is nearly as restless as the kinglets, flying 

 almost continually from twig to twig and indulging in acrobatic feats, 

 hanging head downward or clinging to the bark of trees in search of hiber- 

 nating insects and eggs which may be hidden in the crevices of buds and 

 bark. When flying from twig to twig there is commonly a muffled fluff- 

 fluff of the wings as he proceeds with jerky flight and pumping tail from 

 one location to another. Chickadees are even more sociable in habits 

 than nuthatches, and usually travel in small parties of 5 to 12 or more 

 individuals and are usually associated with nuthatches, Brown creepers 

 and Downy woodpeckers during fall, winter and spring. As Doctor 

 Barrows has shown, the Chickadee destroys some beneficial insects, but 

 in the main his habits seem beneficial on account of the large number of 



