458 
NUTHATCHES AND TITS 
The long-tailed chickadee is common in the mountains of Montana, 
and in Colorado breeds from 7000 to 10,000 feet, wintering, Prof. 
Cooke says, on the plains and foothills, occasionally up to 8000 feet. 
It is sometimes found with flocks of the mountain chickadee, and is 
also common in willows along streams. 
735b. P. a. occidentalis (Baird). Oregon Chickadee. 
Top of head and back of neck glossy jet black, back dark gray , tinged 
with olive brown; sides of head clear white, in sharp contrast to black of 
head and throat; median under parts white, contrasting with tawny brown 
sides. Length: 4.50-5.25, wing 2.35-2.60, tail 2.30-2.55. 
Remarks. — The Oregon chickadee differs from the long-tailed in darker 
coloration and shorter tail. 
Distribution. — Northwest coast region, Sitka to northern California. 
736a. Parus carolinensis agilis Senn. See Appendix, page 486. 
737. Parus sclateri Kleins. Mexican Chickadee. 
Top of head and back of neck jet black, sides of head clear white ; black 
of throat spreading fan-shaped over chest; median under parts white , con¬ 
trasting with dark gray of sides. Length : 4.70-5.20, wing 2.60-2.80, tail 
2.25-2.40. 
Distribution. — Mountains of southern Arizona and Mexico to Orizaba. 
738. Parus gambeli Ridgw. Mountain Chickadee. 
Throat and top of head jet black; black of head broken by white super¬ 
ciliary line ; sides of head white ; back gray; median under parts grayish 
white ; sides dark gray, tinged with light brown. Length : 5.00-5.75, wing 
2.70-3.00, tail 2.40-2.60. 
Distribution. — Breeds in Canadian and Transition zones of the moun¬ 
tains throughout the western United States as far east as the eastern slope 
of the Rocky Mountains, and from British Columbia south to Lower 
California. 
Nest. — In an old woodpecker hole or natural cavity, 3 to 15 feet from the 
ground, usually lined with rabbit fur. Eggs: 5 to 9, plain white or 
spotted with reddish brown, chiefly around the larger end. 
The whistles of the mountain chickadee are perhaps the com¬ 
monest notes heard in the forests of the Sierra Nevada. In the 
usual forms of the whistle either the one long note is followed by 
two or three short notes— phee! -de-de or phce’-de-de-de, or else the 
long note stands between the short notes, as de-de-phce'-de-de. 
Gambeli is a typical chickadee in all its motions, making short 
tilting flights from one treetop to another, and clinging upside down 
to the tips of the branches. It is an unsuspicious little friend, most 
pleasant to meet in the dark coniferous forests, always ready with a 
cheery word. 
It makes a snug nest in some old woodpecker hole. The female 
usually sits very close, Dr. Merrill says, and when disturbed * keeps 
up a constant hissing so much like that of some snakes, that no 
prudent squirrel would venture to enter the hole.’ 
