The Mountain Chickadees 
No. 123 
Mountain Chickadee 
No. 123a Short-tailed Chickadee 
A. O. U. No. 738, part. Penthestes gambeli abbreviatus Grinnell. 
Description. — Adults in spring and summer: Somewhat as in P. atricapillus 
occidentalis. Head and throat similar, but black interrupted by strong white super¬ 
ciliary stripe, nearly or quite meeting fellow on forehead ; upperparts plain deep olive- 
gray, or mouse-gray; wings and tail deeper gray, with some pale grayish edging; sides 
of head, below the black trans-ocular stripe, and neck, white; underparts (except 
throat) dull white, more or less washed on sides, flanks, and under tail-coverts with 
pale olive-gray. Adults in fall and winter: Upperparts washed with buffy (cartridge 
buff); brownish on sides; some white edging on forehead; and superciliary stripe broader. 
Young birds are duller as to black of head and neck, and have a less distinct superciliary. 
Length 127-139.7 (5.00-5.50); wing 70 (2.75); tail 60 (2.35); bill 10.2 (.40); tarsus 18 
(.70). 
Recognition Marks. —Warbler size; much like Oregon Chickadee, but white 
superciliary distinctive; range higher (on the average) than that of other species. 
Nesting. — Nest: A thick mass of rabbit-fur placed in cavity of tree whether 
natural or artificial, but chiefly in holes excavated by parent birds. Eggs: 5 to 8; 
usually plain white, but sometimes faintly or even sharply marked with reddish brown. 
Av. size, 16.5.x 11.9 (.65 x.47). Season: May-June, according to altitude; one brood. 
Range of Penthestes gambeli. —Mountains of western North America from British 
Columbia (centrally) and east-central Montana south to northern Lower California and 
western Texas. 
Range of P. g. abbreviatus. —The Sierra Nevada and northern coast ranges in 
California north into Oregon and, presumbly, east into northern Nevada. Intergrades 
with baileyce in the extreme southern Sierras, and with inyoensis in the Mono Lake 
region, and thence along the eastern flank of the Sierras. 
Authorities. — Gambel ( Par us montanus ), Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vol. 
iii., 1847, p. 155 (“California”; subspecies uncertain); Belding, Bull, Nutt. Orn. Club, 
vol. iii., 1878, p. 102 (breeding habits); Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. i., 1879, p. 400 
(Big Trees; desc. nest and eggs) Barlow , Condor, vol. iii., 1901, p. 183 (Sierra Nevada; 
desc. nest and eggs) ; Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. xvii., 1918, p. 510 (orig. 
desc.; Siskiyou Mts.). 
No. 123b Bailey’s Chickadee 
A. O. U. No. 738a. Penthestes gambeli baileyae Grinnell. 
Synonym.— Mrs. Bailey's Mountain Chickadee. 
Description. —Similar to P. g. abbreviatus, but darker, “smoke-gray” on sides 
and flanks, “mouse-gray” on back. Bill a little larger. 
Range of P. g. baileyce .—The mountain ranges of southern California northwest 
to the Santa Lucia Mountains in Monterey County, south, presumably, to northern 
Lower California; intergrading with P. g. abbreviatus in the southern Sierras. 
Authorities. — Baird ( Parus montanus ), Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. ix., 1858, 
p. 394, part (Ft. Tejon); Grinnell, Condor, vol. x., 1908, p. 29 (orig. desc.; type 
6ll 
