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PASSERIFORMES 
to its cheery “ Chica-chicka-dee-de ” for it usually leads a little company of 
congenial spirits cruising through the woods, and its notes seem to form a 
rallying cry that keeps them together. Thus in the autumn the Chickadee 
is often the centre of a little host of mixed species of warblers, vireos, 
kinglets, nuthatches, and an occasional Downy Woodpecker or a Brown 
Creeper. After the migrant members have left for the winter, the remaining, 
hardier ones keep casual company until spring when nesting duties scatter 
them for the season. As spring approaches, the Chickadees remember a 
new song consisting of two whistled notes, high and clear. The first is 
prolonged, and the second about two tones lower. It has been translated 
as “Spring's here” 
Economic Status. Few birds are more useful to mankind than the 
Chickadee. Though small, it is constantly at work, and being with 11 s 
all winter its good work is continued throughout the year. All insects 
are very small in their early stages and the little bird that devours a whole 
cluster of eggs at a gulp may benefit agriculture as greatly as a larger 
one that makes a meal from one or two large caterpillars or adult insects 
but scorns the minute ones. The prying habits of the Chickadee and its 
companions the nuthatch, creeper, etc., and their close examination of 
the small crevices where many insects hide or hibernate, render their 
services of great value to the husbandman, especially in winter, when 
insect enemies are scarce, and the total taken throughout the year by 
these allied species must be very great. These active little birds demand 
comparatively large quantities of food to resist the intense cold, and the 
smallness of their prey necessitates the consumption of innumerable 
individuals. 
The Chickadee’s food is 68 per cent insect and 32 per cent vegetable. 
The former comprises eggs, larva;, chrysalids, and small insects, largely 
weevils, and includes some of the worst orchard and crop pests. The 
vegetable matter is largely small seeds and wild fruit. No charges of 
damage to cultivated varieties have been advanced. Chickadees can easily 
be induced to come about the home grounds in winter and with a little 
coaxing become tame enough even to alight on the person and feed from 
the hand. A lump of suet fastened to a tree trunk is a never failing attrac- 
tion to them and ensures their constant visits. 
738. Gambel’s Chickadee, mountain chickadee. la mesange de gambel. 
Penthestes gambeli. L, 5. Plate LI A. Almost exactly like the Black-capped Chickadee 
but greyer, with less sandy wash on flanks or back, and with a white eyebrow-line. 
Distinctions. Likely to be confused only with the Black-capped Chickadee, but see 
distinctions above. 
Field Marks. Like a Black-capped Chickadee with a white line over the eye. 
Nesting. In an old woodpecker-hole or natural cavity in stub; nest usually lined 
with rabbit fur. 
Distribution. Mountains of western North America. In Canada, the western 
mountains, except the coastal slope, north to northern British Columbia. 
SUBSPECIES. The Canadian representative of the species is given by some authors 
as the Short-tailed Mountain Chickadee (la M6sange de Gambel h queue courte) Penthestes 
gambeli abbreviatus, though the A.O.U. Check-list, refers it to Grinnell’s Chickadee (la 
Mesange de Grinnell) Penthestes gambeli grinnelli. 
So nearly like the Black-capped Chicadee as scarcely to require 
special mention. It frequents somewhat higher altitudes in summer and 
at that season the two species are rarely seen together. 
