The Bird Book Part 105

737. MEXICAN CHICKADEE. _Penthestes sclateri._

Range.--Mountains of western Mexico north to southern Arizona.

This species has the black more extended on the throat and the under parts are grayish of a lighter shade than the upper, the cheeks, however, remaining white. Their nests are in hollow stubs and the eggs are indistinguishable from those of the foregoing Chickadees.

738. MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE. _Penthestes gambeli gambeli._

Range.--Rocky Mountain region and west to the Pacific; north to British Columbia chiefly in higher ranges.

This handsome little t.i.tmouse has a white superciliary line, leaving a black stripe through the eye. Their habits are like those of the other Chickadees and they are equally confiding and inquisitive. Their eggs range from five to eight in number and are either pure white or faintly marked with reddish brown; size .60 .45. Data.--Estes Park, Colorado, June 8, 1803. Nest in an old Sapsucker's hole in a live aspen tree, 28 feet from the ground; cavity lined with hair and fur.

[Ill.u.s.tration 437: 735b--737--738.]

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

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

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

Page 436

739. ALASKA CHICKADEE. _Penthestes cinctus alascensis._

Range.--Northern Alaska and eastern Siberia.

This bird, which is most like the Hudsonian Chickadee, nests in the usual manner and its eggs are like those of the common Chickadee of the east.

740. HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE. _Penthestes hudsonicus hudsonicus._

Range.--Western half of British America.

These brown capped Chickadees are very abundant throughout the northwest and are even tamer than our United States varieties. They usually make their nests at low elevations in dead and decayed stumps and line the bottom of the cavity, which varies from three to eight inches in depth, with moss and fur. Their eggs, which they lay in May, June or July, are white, specked with reddish brown and cannot with any certainty be distinguished from those of the Black-capped Chickadees, the eggs of all the species showing considerable variations; size .60 .45.

740a. ACADIAN CHICKADEE. _Penthestes hudsonicus littoralis._

Range.--Kowak River, northwest Alaska.

A larger and grayer form of the last species; nesting habits and eggs not differing.

740b. COLUMBIAN CHICKADEE. _Penthestes hudsonicus columbia.n.u.s._

Range.--Rocky Mountains from northern United States to Alaska.

Like _hudsonicus_ but with the crown slaty instead of brownish. No difference can be distinguished either in their habits or eggs.

740c. CANADIAN CHICKADEE. _Penthestes hudsonicus littoralis._

Range.--Eastern half of Canada and northern New England and New York.

These birds were formerly _hudsonicus_ in company with the western ones, but they are now supposed to be a trifle smaller and with the crown duller; this division does not affect the similarity of their habits and eggs.

[Ill.u.s.tration 438: Hudsonian Chickadee.]

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

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

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

Page 437

741. CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE. _Penthestes rufescens rufescens._

Range.--Pacific coast from Oregon to Alaska.

This species is similar to the Hudsonian in having a brown crown and black throat, but has in addition, a chestnut colored back and sides.

They breed locally in Oregon, more commonly in Was.h.i.+ngton and are abundant in British Columbia, making the nests of animal fur in holes in dead stubs. Their eggs vary in number from five to eight and are creamy white, dotted with reddish; size .60 .45. Data.--Dayton, Oregon, May 28, 1906. Nest of hair and fur in willow stub, 10 feet up.

741a. CALIFORNIA CHICKADEE. _Penthestes rufescens neglectus._

Range.--Coast regions of California.

This variety is not as rufous on the sides as the more northern one. Its habits and eggs are the same.

741b. BARLOW'S CHICKADEE. _Penthestes rufescens barlowi_.

Range.--About Monterey Bay, California.

This variety is said to have no rusty on the flanks. Its habits and eggs are like those of the others.

742a. PALLID WREN-t.i.t. _Chamaea fasciata henshawi_.

Range.--Interior of California from Lower California to the Sacramento Valley.

This duller colored variety has the same nesting habits and similar eggs to those of the Coast Wren-t.i.t.

742b. Coast Wren-t.i.t. _Chamaea fasciata fasciata._

Range.--Pacific coast from southern California north to Oregon.

These peculiar brownish gray colored birds frequent the tangled underbrush of ravines and mountain sides where they lead the life of a recluse. They nest at low elevations in the densest thickets, making them of twigs, strips of bark, gra.s.ses and feathers, compactly woven together and located in bushes from one to four feet from the ground.

They lay from three to five plain, unmarked, pure white eggs; size .75 .54. Data.--Wrights, Cal. Nest in a tangle of vines in a deep ravine; composed of strips of bark, moss and gra.s.ses, lined with cattle hair; a bulky nest.

743. BUSH-t.i.t. _Psaltriparus minimus minimus._