Mountain
Chickadee
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
Species: gambeli
La. passer sparrow, small
bird
La. forma form, kind, species
La. parum too little
La. parus titmouse, tomtit
Gr. poecile painted
La. bambeli for William
Gambel
About four inches or a little longer, black crown and throat,
white supercilium (line from the base of the upper mandible over
the eye to the back of the head). |
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| White on sides of the head to the back of the
neck. Gray back, wings and tail. Light grayish white underside. Inhabits coniferous and mixed forests year around in the mountainous regions
of western U.S. from New Mexico, Arizona, California and Baja to Montana, Idaho,
Washington, and British Columbia.
Builds nests of grass, plant down and wool or hair in abandoned and
natural cavities of trees and stumps from near the ground up to twenty feet.
Lays six to ten, more or less, white, sometimes speckled eggs which hatch after about
two weeks incubation and young leave the nest in about another three weeks. Hisses like a
snake when defending its nest.
Eats insects, seeds and fruit. Will frequent feeders and nest in bird
houses. Feed Chickadees sunflower seeds, nyjer (thistle seeds) and
suet.
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The Mountain Chickadee
Birdhouse (same as for
Nuthatches,
Titmice,
Downy
Woodpecker and other Chickadees)
has a 4" by 4" floor, 9" inside ceiling, 1 1/4" diameter entrance hole
located 7" above the floor and ventilation openings.
Assembled with corrosion resistant screws fit to pre-drilled
countersunk pilot holes. Hinged roof is secured with shutter hooks for
easy access.
Mount nest box on a tree trunk or hang from a limb from chest level to just out
of reach, higher only if necessary.
|
R. Bruce Horsfall |
