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Genus — Bceolophus. Tufted Titmice. 



731. Tufted Titmouse, fr. — la mesange huppee. Bceolophus Ucohr. 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 "Peetle^peetle — 

 peetle" is most characteristic but is very like one of the phrases of the Orchard Oriole. 



Nesting. In Woodpecker's old 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. 



Genus — Penthestes. Chickadees. 



735. Black-capped Chickadee. chickadee, fr. — la mesange a tete noib. 

 Penthestes atricapillus. L, 5-27. Plate XLVII A. 



Distinctions. This species can be mistaken in eastern Canada only for the Brown- 

 headed Chickadee 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 colour, a black cap and throat, white cheeks, 

 and soft grey back, and its note "Chick-adee-dee" in which its name is so plainly pro- 

 nounced, 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 be based only 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 company. 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." 



Economic Status. Few birds are more useful to mankind than the 

 Chickadee. Though small, it is constantly at work, and being with us 

 all winter its good work is continued throughout the year. All insects 



