212 
FAMILY—PARIDM. TITMICE. 
The Titmice are birds of wide distribution in the northern hemisphere 
and are as familiar to European residents as to us. They are small birds 
with rather short but comparatively strongly arched bills (Figure 66, 
p. 28). Their plumage characters are usually easily recognized. 
731. Tufted Titmouse. Beolophus bicolor. L, 6. The largest of our Titmice and 
without the characteristic Chickadee colouring. All above, an almost even stone-grey,; 
white below slightly washed on flanks with rufous. A distinct almost Blue Jay-like 
crest. 
Distinctions. The plain grey and unmarked coloration with striking crest are 
unmistakable distinctions and field marks. Its common note a loud clear Peeile-peetle— 
peetle is most characteristic but is very like one of the phrases of the Orchard Oriole. 
Nesting. In old woodpecker’s holes, stumps, etc., in nest of leaves, moss, strips of 
bark, feathers, etc. 
Distribution. Southern and eastern United States north to and just touching 
Canadian boundaries in the lower Great Lakes region. 
The only Canadian records for the Tufted Titmouse are two noted 
on Pelee point in southern Ontario in the western Lake Erie country. 
It is rather common on the Michigan side of Detroit river and even 
on Grosse isle in midstream and should eventually be found on the Cana- 
dian side of the river though as yet we have no record of its occurrence there. 
735. Black-capped Chickadee. CHICKADEE. FR.—LA MSSANGE A THTE NOIR. 
Penthestes atricapillus. L, 5-27. Plate XLVII A. 
Distinctions. This species can be mistaken in eastern Canada only for the Brown- 
headed Chicadee but is a far commoner and more generally distributed species. 
Field Marks. The Chickadee is all field mark. Its shape, a round bundle of feathers 
with tail and hardly any neck, its sprightly habit, its penchant for hanging upside down 
while investigating the very tips of twigs, its colours, a black cap and throat, white cheeks, 
and soft grey back, and its note Chick-a dee-dee in which its name is so plainly pronouneed, 
all proclaim its species on the instant. 
Nesting. In old stumps, holes in trees, etc., in nest of moss, grasses, feathers, and 
plant-down. 
Distribution. As a species, from about the centre of the United States north to the 
tree limits; the Black-capped Chickadee occurs from a little south of the Canadian line 
north, extending west to the prairie provinces where its place is taken by allied subspecies, 
SUBSPECIES. Like other dominant and wide ranging species the Black-capped 
Chickadee under the various conditions of the continent divides in North America into 
several recognizable geographic races or subspecies. In eastern Canada there is only one 
form, the type of the species, the Eastern Chickadee. To the south occurs the Carolina 
Chickadee P. carolinensis, a closely allied but distinct species that may be looked for as 
accidental in the lower Great Lakes region, as it has been taken in Michigan immediately 
over the boundary. The specific distinctions, however, are too slight to be accurately 
defined here and records can only be based on specimens. 
Of all the birds of field or woods the Chickadee is the cheeriest and 
merriest. ‘The Chickadee is often the centre of a little host of mixed 
species of Warblers, Vireos, Kinglets, Nuthatches, and an occasional 
Downy Woodpecker and Brown Creeper. After the migrants have left 
for the winter the hardier ones remain casually together off and on 
until the spring breeding scatters the good-natured little com- 
pany. The Chickadee has another song composed of only two notes of 
rather high register clear and whistle-like. The first is prolonged and 
the second shorter about two tones lower and has been translated as 
““Spring’s here’. 
