222 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



735. Parus atricapillus (LINN.). 



Chickadee. 



DESCRIPTION. (Plate 47.} 



Length about 5 inches ; extent about 8 inches ; bill black ; legs bluish gray ; 

 iris brown. Back brownish ashy ; top of head, chin and throat black ; sides of 

 head white ; beneath whiteish ; brownish on sides ; wing and tail feathers more or 

 less margined with white. 



Hab. Eastern North America, north of the Potomac and Ohio Valleys. 



Common resident ; found in all .localities, but during the summer 

 these birds are usually seen in woods and thickets, from which in win- 

 ter they often come about houses, or, in small flocks, frequent weedy 

 places in fields and swamps in search of food. The common name 

 arises from their familiar note of chick- a- dee- dee. These birds some- 

 times nest in natural cavities, but generally Woodpecker-like, they 

 excavate holes in trees, stumps, etc., in which they build a nest of 

 hair, feathers, moss, fine dried grasses or other soft materials. The 

 eggs, mostly 6 or 7, sometimes more, are white, spotted or dotted 

 chiefly about the larger end with reddish-brown ; measure about .60 

 long by .50 wide. The Chickadee feeds on different forms of insect 

 life and seeds of various weeds, grass and other plants. Crumbs of 

 bread, pieces of meat, fragments of apples, pears and other fruits are 

 also eaten. 



FAMILY SYLVIIDJE. KINGLETS, ETC. 

 SUBFAMILY EEGULIN^I. KINGLETS. 

 GENUS REGULUS. CUVIER. 

 748. Regulus satrapa. LIGHT. 



Golden-crowned Kinglet. 



DESCRIPTION. (Plate 48.) 



Length about 4 ; extent about 6. 50 ; legs brownish-yellow ; feet yellowish ; bill 

 black ; iris brown. Upper parts olive-green ; wings and tail dusky, edged with yel- 

 lowish ; crown (adult male) bordered in front, also on sides with black, embracing 

 a central patch of fiery orange-red encircled by yellow. The female lias no flame- 

 colored patch ; crown is entirely yellow, margined with black ; wing and tail 

 feathers edged with yellowish ; lower parts dull whitish. 



Hab. North America generally, breeding in the northern and elevated parts of 

 the United States, and northward, migrating south in winter to Guatemala. 



Common winter resident from about the middle of October to the 

 middle of April. This species is most numerous in October, Novem- 

 ber, March and April, or when migrating south and north. The Golden- 

 crowned Kinglet frequents the tops of tall forest trees as well as low 

 bushes, and frequently, particularly when migrating in the spring and 

 fall, is found, in company with the Ruby-crowned Kinglet (R. calen- 



