22 American Birds 



they do not greet me with the same song I heard three 

 years ago, " Tsic-a-dee-dee ! Seven-are-we 1 " 



THE CHICKADEE OR TITMOUSE FAMILY 



The Chickadee is one of our few winter residents; he is hardy, al- 

 ways cheerful, and braves the coldest winter spell. He is musical after 

 his own fashion, always active and restless, heedless of man's presence. 

 He is only five inches long with a black and white coat, and is generally 

 seen hanging head down, hunting insect eggs and bugs under the limbs 

 and leaves. 



Chickadee (Parus atricapillus) : Male and female, top of head and 

 back of neck and throat, black; sides of head, white; back, ashy or 

 grayish; under parts, whitish. Resident of eastern North America north 

 of the Potomac, winter as well as summer. Nest, in a hole in a stump, 

 made of wool, hair, and feathers. Eggs, six to nine, white speckled with 

 brown. 



Western Chickadee (Parus atricapillus occidentalis): Almost identi- 

 cal with above. Lives on the Pacific Coast from California to Alaska. 



