TITMICE 



(740) Penthestes hudsonicus 

 hudsonicus 



(Forsler) 



HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE. 



Plumage as shown; top of head hair- 

 brown; throat patch black; sides of 

 head and breast white, shading into 

 rufous on the sides and buff on the 

 belly. L., s.oo. Nest — Of moss, 

 feathers and felted fur; in hollow 

 stumps or holes in trees; eggs white, 

 spotted with reddish-brown. 



Range — Breeds from tree limit in 

 Alaska, Mackenzie and Keewatin 

 south to Ungava, central Ont., Man. 

 and B. C; south casually to northern 

 111. (740a). P. h. littordlis ARCA- 

 DIAN CHICKADEE. Breeds 

 from Newfoundland and Quebec 

 south to mountains of N. H., Vt., and 

 N. Y. Casual in Mass. in winter. 



winter. They come readily to lunch counters that are pro- 

 vided by many kind persons for winter birds. Sometimes 

 they become so accustomed to the ones that feed them that 

 they will alight on their hands or even pick pieces of nuts 

 from between the person's lips. This is confidence very 

 different from the fearlessness with which some individuals 

 have alighted on my hand as I was holding some of their 

 little ones preparatory to photographing them, "dee, dee, 

 dee-ing " excitedly and looking into my face as though implor- 

 ing me to release their children. 



Chickadees rear large families; one nest in a small birch 

 containing twelve young arranged in three tiers was found 

 to be in a very cleanly condition as is usual with nests of 

 Chickadees. In spring, Chickadees often sing a high-pitched, 

 clearly whistled "phe-be. " At other times they use only the 

 familiar "Chickadee-dee-dee-dee," a "tse-day, tse-day" and 

 "dee-dee," etc. 



In the Southern States, Chickadees are a trifle smaller 



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