The Bird Book Part 104

Page 433

730a. WHITE-NAPED NUTHATCH. _Sitta pygmaea leuconucha._

Range.--Lower California.

Like the last but grayer above and white below. Its habits and eggs are the same as those of the Pygmy Nuthatch.

731. TUFTED t.i.tMOUSE. _Baeolophus bicolor_.

Range.--Eastern United States, resident and breeding from the Gulf north to New York and Illinois.

This species has a grayish crest and upper parts, and is white beneath with brownish sides and black forehead. These common and noisy birds nest in natural cavities in trees or in holes deserted by Woodp.e.c.k.e.rs; they may be found at any elevation, from two to thirty feet from the ground. They line the bottom of the cavity with leaves, bark, fibres and hair, and during April or May lay five to eight white eggs, plentifully specked with reddish brown. Size .74 .54.

732. BLACK-CRESTED t.i.tMOUSE. _Baeolophus atricristatus atricristatus._

Range.--Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and southward.

This t.i.tmouse has a black crest and the forehead is white; otherwise similar to the preceding. Like the last, these birds nest in deserted Woodp.e.c.k.e.rs' holes and natural cavities in trees, either in open woods or in the vicinity of habitations. Their eggs are spa.r.s.ely spotted with reddish brown, and not usually distinguishable from those of the Tufted t.i.tmouse. Size .70 .54. Data.--Brownsville, Texas, May 11, 1892. Nest of moss, hair, down and wool in cavity in tree in open woods near town; 4 feet from the ground.

[Ill.u.s.tration 435: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tufted t.i.tmouse. Black-crested t.i.tmouse.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 434

733. PLAIN t.i.tMOUSE. _Baeolophus inornatus inornatus_.

Range.--California and Oregon west of the Sierra Nevadas.

This common, slightly crested t.i.tmouse is grayish brown above and grayish white below. They nest anywhere in cavities that meet with their approval, about old buildings, in fence posts, etc., as well as holes in trees. Their eggs range from five to eight in number and are white, usually spotted with pale brownish. Size .72 .52. Data.--Tulare Co., California, April 3, 1895. Nest in an oak tree, 32 feet from the ground, in a natural cavity of a horizontal limb; composed of gra.s.ses, feathers and fur.

733a. GRAY t.i.tMOUSE. _Baeolophus inornatus griseus._

Range.--Southeastern United States, from Colorado and Nevada southward.

The nesting habits of this gray t.i.tmouse are just the same as those of the other.

733b. ASHY t.i.tMOUSE. _Baeolophus inornatus cineraceus._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

The habits of this variety are the same as those of the Plain t.i.tmouse and doubtless the eggs are also.

734. BRIDLED t.i.tMOUSE. _Baeolophus wollweberi._

Range.--Mexico north to southern Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas.

This handsome species is quite abundant in the mountains of southern Arizona, and nests in woods or about ranches, lining the cavities of trees with moss, down, leaves, etc. The three to seven eggs that they lay are pure white, unmarked. Size .65 .52. Data.--Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, April 5, 1901. Nest in the natural cavity of a live oak, 12 feet from the ground; cavity lined with bark and feathers.

735. CHICKADEE. _Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from the Middle and Central States northward to Labrador; only migratory to a slight extent.

The Chickadee is too well known to need any description; suffice it to say that they are the favorites, with everybody, among all the North American birds. They breed in holes in trees in orchards or woods, and also in bird boxes. I have found by far the greater number in decayed birch stubs. They line the cavities with fine gra.s.ses and feathers, and during May or June lay from five to eight white eggs, dotted with reddish brown; size .55 .45.

[Ill.u.s.tration 436: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 733--734.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Chickadee. Carolina Chickadee.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 435

735a. LONG-TAILED CHICKADEE. _Penthestes ataricapillus septentrionalis._

Range.--Rocky Mountain region, north to British Columbia.

This variety is very similar to the last but has a slightly longer tail and the colors are purer. Its nesting habits are the same and the eggs are indistinguishable from those of the eastern Chickadee.

735b. OREGON CHICKADEE. _Penthestes atricapillus occidentalis._

Range.--Pacific coast from California to Alaska.

The habits and eggs of this slightly darker variety are just the same as those of the common Chickadee of the east.

736. CAROLINA CHICKADEE. _Penthestes carolinensis carolinensis._

Range.--Southern United States from the Gulf to New Jersey and Illinois.

The southern Chickadee is smaller than the northern and the wing coverts and feathers have little or no white edgings. Their nesting habits are in every particular the same as those of _atricapillus_ and the eggs cannot be distinguished with certainty, but average smaller; size .53 .43.

736a. PLUMBEOUS CHICKADEE. _Penthestes carolinensis agilis._

Range.--Eastern and central Texas.

This variety is said to be more plumbeous above and much whiter below than the preceding. No differences can be found in the eggs of the two varieties and the nesting habits are the same.