LAND BIRDS. 697 
The ordinary call-note of the Chickadee is well expressed by the syllables 
composing its name, the song being commonly written chickadee-dcee- 
dee-dee, dee-dee-dee, the number of syllables being very variable. Occa- 
sionally it utters a series of twittering or almost warbling notes, but these 
are seldom loud, and hardly long enough continued to constitute a song. A 
more characteristic song, if it may be called such, is a clear, liquid, pene- 
trating whistle, consisting of but two notes which suggest the syllables 
pee-wee, the second note being a tone or a half tone lower than the first. 
This peculiar note is uttered more or less at all times of the year, but much 
more often between January first and June first. It is often spoken of 
as the “pewee call” of the Chickadee, and has been regarded by many 
as its nesting song or the note peculiar to the breeding season. Asa matter 
of fact it is uttered most freely and persistently on clear cold mornings in 
earliest spring, in February and March, long before the birds have begun 
preparing their nests, and so far as can be observed, before they have 
even chosen their mates. This call is often mistaken by the beginner for 
the note of the Phcebe or Pewee, and many observers have recorded the 
arrival of the Pewee at northern stations early in March or even in February, 
when in reality the note heard belonged to the Chickadee. 
Except during the nesting season Chickadees are almost always found 
in little family parties of eight or ten, these occasionally uniting with 
similar parties so that thirty or forty may be found scattered through 
the woods within hearing of each other. With such a party are often 
found one or two Downy Woodpeckers, a pair or two of White-breasted 
Nuthatches, from two to six Golden-crowned Kinglets (particularly if there 
are many evergreens in the vicinity), and occasionally a Brown Creeper, a 
Red-bellied Nuthatch and a Hairy Woodpecker. Such a troup of winter 
birds roam leisurely through the woods and orchards in search of food, 
probably keeping together almost the entire day and undoubtedly deriving 
much satisfaction from each other’s company. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Adult: Entire upper surface of head, from bill to nape, black; sides of head and neck 
white; chin and throat black; back, wings and tail clear gray or ash, the wings with an 
indistinct whitish bar, and most of the wing and tail-feathers white-margined on the 
outer web; breast and belly white or grayish-white, the sides more or less tinged with 
brown or buff. Sexes alike, and no great difference between winter and summer plumages. 
Length 4.75 to 5.75 inches; wing 2.50 to 2.75; tail 2.50 to 2.70, 
314. Carolina Chickadee. Penthestes carolinensis carolinensis (Avd.). 
(736) 
Synonyms: Southern Chickadee.—Parus carolinensis, Aud., 1834, and of most other 
authors.—Parus atricapillus var. carolinensis, Coues, 1873, and others. 
According to Ridgway this species may be readily distinguished from 
the common Black-capped Chickadee “by the more solid and extensive 
black on the throat; by the absence of distinct white edgings on the wing 
and tail-feathers, and by the tail being decidedly shorter than the wing. 
Distribution.—Southeastern states, north to New Jersey, Illinois, and 
west to Missouri. 
