THE CHICKADEE 



THOMAS NUTTALL 



THIS familiar, hardy and restless little bird chiefly inhabits 

 the northern and .middle States, as well as Canada. In 

 the latter country it is found even in winter around Hudson's 

 Bay. 



During autumn and winter families of these birds are seen 

 chattering and roving through the woods, busily engaged in 

 gleaning food. Along with the Creepers and Nuthatches 

 they form a busy, active and noisy group, whose manners, 

 habits and food bring them together in a common pursuit. 

 Their diet varies with the season; for besides insects and 

 their eggs, of which they are particularly fond, in September 

 they leave the woods and assemble familiarly in our orchards 

 and gardens. Sometimes they even enter cities in quest of 

 food. Large seeds of many kinds, particularly those which 

 are oily, are now sought after. Fat of various kinds is also 

 greedily eaten, and the Chickadees regularly watch the retreat 

 of the hog-killers in the country to glean up the fragments of 

 meat which adhere to the places where the carcasses have 

 been suspended. At times they feed upon the wax of the 

 candleberry myrtle. They likewise pick up crumbs near the 

 houses, and search the weather-boards, and even the window- 

 sills for insect prey. They are particularly fond of spiders 

 and the eggs of destructive moths, especially those of the 

 canker worm, which they greedily devour in all stages of its 

 existence. 



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