PETO BIED 151 



< Peto Bird ; ' Tufted Titmouse : Parus bicolor. 

 (See Fig. 77, p. 153.) 



Crest and entire upper parts gray ; under parts white ; sides 

 washed with brown. Length, 6 inches. 



GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION. Eastern United States ; breeds 

 from the Gulf states to southern Iowa and northern New 

 Jersey ; resident throughout its breeding range. 



Like the Cardinal, the Titmouse is to be found 

 in the National Zoological Park in Washington 

 throughout the year, and the songs of the two may 

 easily be mistaken, although the pe-to whistle of 

 the Titmouse is distinctive and its day-day-day- 

 day-day-day-dait proclaims it a Chickadee. Like 

 the Cardinal, the Titmouse has a high crest, but 

 there the resemblance ends, for the Titmouse 

 is a small bird robed in Quaker gray, and the 

 Cardinal a large bird decked out in cardinal 

 plumes. Then, too, the bill of the Titmouse is 

 small and black like the Chickadee's, while the 

 Cardinal's is swollen and red (Fig. 28, p. 65). 



In the southern part of Illinois, Mr. Ridgway 

 says, no bird is more abundant at all seasons of 

 the year. He says they are " roving in restless, 

 noisy troops through the woods, scolding at every 

 intruder and calling to one another in harsh 

 tones." He adds that in winter " they become 

 very familiar, approaching with confidence the 

 immediate vicinity of dwellings and, in com- 

 pany with Snowbirds, Carolina Chickadees, Nut- 



