Part 48

Range.—Western North America, Rocky Mountains west. Habits same as the preceding.

ALASKA CHICKADEE. 739. Penthestes cinctus alascensis. 5 inches.

Range.—Alaska and eastern Siberia. One would naturally think that these little animated bunches of feathers would freeze in the far north where they make their homes. But they are the same sprightly little “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” that we have farther south, and do not seem to mind the severe cold at all. In habits, nest and eggs, these birds are so near alike that it is impossible to identify them.

HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE. 740. Penthestes hudsonicus. 5 inches.

Range.—Western half of British America. Habits the same as above.

CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE. 741. Penthestes rufescens. 5 inches.

Range.—Alaska to Oregon on the Pacific coast, and occasionally to central California. Habits the same as preceding.

CALIFORNIA CHICKADEE. 741a. Penthestes r. neglectus. 5 inches.

Range.—Middle section of California, near the coast (not illustrated).

BUSH-TIT. 743. Psaltriparus minimus. 4½ inches.

Range.—Pacific coast of California, Oregon and Washington. In habits all of these birds are similar to the Chickadees. They are full of life, and in searching for insects are as much at home when upside down on the outer end of a bunch of pine needles as are the Chickadees. For nest building they have no superiors, making long gourd-like structures of fibers, moss, and grass, woven closely together, lined with feathers and wool, suspended from twigs at a low elevation or woven into some thick brush; they have a small opening near the top for the doorway. They lay from four to nine pure white eggs (.54 × .40).

LEAD-COLORED BUSH-TIT. 744. Psaltriparus plumbeus. 4½ inches.

Range.—Oregon, Colorado, to southern California and Texas. The habits are identical with above. Nests are made the same, and from eight to twelve inches long.

LLOYD BUSH-TIT. 745. Psaltriparus melanotis lloydi. 4½ inches.

Range.—Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Habits the same as above.

VERDIN. 746. Auriparus flaviceps. 4½ inches.

Range.—Colorado and southern California to Mexico. This bird is simply nothing more than a Bush-tit with his Sunday clothes on, or not a full suit, but a bright yellow head and neck dress. They are abundant and active little fellows in the thick chaparral brush, where they build a nest more bulky than the “tit” but not as artistic or compact. They are placed in thorn or other bushes within a few feet of the ground, made of twigs and weeds, and lined with fur and feathers. Their eggs, four to six, are white. For amusement, they construct one or two additional nests, in which they remain at night.

WREN-TIT. 742. Chamæa fasciata. 5 inches.

Range.—From southern California north to Oregon along the coast. These are much like the Chickadee in habits, only much more secluded, frequenting the deep ravines along the mountain sides, where they build their nests of twigs, fibers of vines, grasses and feathers, in bushes near the ground. Four or five greenish blue, unmarked eggs are their complement (.70 × .50).

KENNICOTT WARBLER. 747. Acanthopneuste borealis. 5 inches.

Range.—In Alaska casually. Breeds in the extreme northern part of Asia. Their nest and eggs have not been found on this continent as far as we know at present. They build on the ground in a tussock of grass, laying from three to five white eggs finely spotted with chestnut (.70 × .50).

WESTERN GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. 748a. Regulus satrapa olivaceus. 4½ inches.

Range.—Alaska to southern California, on the Pacific coast. These little birds are found commonly in company with small flocks of the Chickadee, and like them may be seen hanging on the under side of the outer ends of the coniferous trees in search of their insect food. They nest in the northern part of their range, building large, comfortable-looking structures of needles from the pines, strips of vines and grass, nicely lined with feathers. Four to eight eggs, dull white, spotted with brown and lilac (.55 × .42).

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 749. Regulus calendula. 5 inches.

Range.—North America, breeding mostly north of the United States or in the Rocky Mountain regions farther south.

WESTERN GNATCATCHER. 751a. Polioptila cærulea obscura. 5 inches.

Range.—Western United States, breeding in northern Colorado and California. These birds in their actions somewhat resemble the Redstart, with their long tail, and quick flights into the air for insects and back again to the same twig, possibly near where their nest is placed. They build one of the prettiest of nests, very deep and cup-shaped, and on the top of some moss-covered limb at twenty to forty feet from the ground. Making the nest from plant down and moss, completely covered with lichens, so that it resembles a large knot on the limb, much like the nest of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Four or five dull white eggs, spotted with brown (.58 × .45).

PLUMBEOUS GNATCATCHER. 752. Polioptila plumbea. 4½ inches.