486 



TITMICE 



FIG. 135. Tufted Titmouse. 

 (Natural size.) 



Range. Carolinian and Austroriparian faunas from Nebr., Iowa, Ills., 

 Ind., Ohio, Pa., and N. J. s. to cen. Tex., the Gulf coast, and Fla.; casual in 

 s. parts of Wise., Mich., N. Y., and Conn. 



Washington, very common P. R., more so in winter. N. Ohio, common 

 P. R. Glen Ellyn, only two records, Apl. 4 and Nov. 19. 



Nest, of leaves, moss, strips of bark, feathers, etc., in Woodpeckers' 

 deserted holes, stumps, etc. Eggs, 5-8, white or creamy white, rather coarsely 



and evenly marked with rufous-brown, 

 71 x '55. Date, Mt. Pleasant, S. C., Apl. 

 21; Weaverville, N. C., Apl. 8; Brook- 

 ville, Ind., Apl. 22. 



The Tufted Titmouse is a bird of 

 very general distribution in wood- 

 lands, where its presence is always 

 made known by its notes. Its com- 

 mon call is a loud, clearly whistled 

 peto, peto, peto, peto, whieh may be 

 repeated by the same individual for 

 hours at a time. Occasionally the 

 key is changed, and at first the notes 

 are decidedly pleasing, but the bird 

 finally wearies one by its monoto- 

 nous repetition. It utters also other whistled calls, and a de-de-de-de, 

 much like the notes of the Chickadee, though somewhat louder and 

 hoarser. The Tufted Tit is not a shy bird and may be approached 

 with ease. Its conspicuous crest is an excellent field-mark. 



735. Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus (Linn.). CHICKADEE. 

 (Fig. 746.) Ads. Top of the head, nape, and throat shining black; sides 

 of the head and neck white; back ashy; outer vanes of greater wing-coverts 

 distinctly margined with white; wing and tail-feathers margined with 

 whitish; breast white; belly and sides washed with cream-buff. L., 5*27; 

 W., 2-53; T., 2'43; B., '37. 



Range. Canadian and Transition zones of e. N. A. from se. Keewatin, 

 and N. F. s. to cen. Mo., Ills., n. Ind., Ohio, Pa., n. N. J., and in the Alle- 

 ghanies s. to N. C. ; somewhat further s. in winter. 



Washington, rare and irregular W. V., Oct. 19- Apl. 19. Ossining, toler- 

 ably common P. R. Cambridge, common P. R., more numerous in fall and 

 winter. N. Ohio, common P. R. Glen Ellyn, fairly common P. R. SE. Minn., 

 common P. R. 



Nest, of moss, grasses, feathers, and plant-down, in old stumps, holes in 

 trees, etc., not more than 15 feet up. Eggs, 5-9, white, spotted and speckled, 

 chiefly at the larger end, with cinnamon- or rufous-brown, "60 x '48. Date, 

 Saybrook, Conn., May 6; Cambridge, May 10; Holland Patent, N. Y., May 

 15; Brookville, Ind., Apl. 22; se. Minn., May 11. 



When most birds were strangers to me, I remember thinking 

 what a blessing it would be if every one spoke his name as plainly 

 as does this animated bunch of black and white feathers. No need 

 of a text-book to discover his name ; with winning confidence he 

 introduced himself, and probably for this reason he hasjilways been 

 my best friend among birds. +. 



I never hear his voice in the pnt~ Z3 01 

 woods without answering him: ^ - 



