by Adeela Farisi

Chickadees

&

Titmice

P. carolinensis
P. bicolor
* click on above pictures or text to see related site.
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Higher Taxon: Family Paridae  

Description  
     Birds of the genus Parus are small sized land birds which range in size from 3-8 inches. They mainly live in wooded areas in North America, Eurasia, and Africa. None are found in South America or Australia. They are plump birds with small bills and there is little difference in the appearance between males and females (Peterson 1980). Birds of the genus Parus are characterized by a perching foot, where all four of their toes are well developed and seperate from one another. Their lower leg and mandible bone are covered by a horny sheath. These birds have rounded wings and tails that vary from short to long. Bills are pointed and stout and they have inoperculate nostrils, which are concealed by thick feathers. Their vocal organs are well developed. (Passeriformes 1983). The bird's primary food sources are insects, berries and seeds. They are skilled at manipulating food by holding it down with one foot and hitting it with their beaks. Using the foot in this manner is uncommon among birds, but is a distinct trait among members of the genus Parus (Smith 1991). Birds of this genus are easy to differentiate except for the Carolina chickadee and the Black-capped chickadee. All birds are noteably patterned in grays, yellows, browns, blacks and whites (Passeriformes 1983).
 
 Species List for Parus
species found in North America
Scientific Names Common Names
P. atricapillus Black-capped; Long Tail Chickadee
P. atricristatus Grey-crested Chickadee
P. bicolor Tuffted; Crested; Pete Bird Titmouse
P. carolinensis Carolina; Florida Chickadee
P. cinctus Siberian Tit
P. gambeli Mountain; Bailey's Chickadee
P. hudsonicus Boreal; Acadian; Brown-capped Chickadee
P. inornatus Oak; Plain Titmouse
P. ridegwayi Juniper Titmouse
P. rufescens Chesnut-backed; Barlow's Chickadee
P. sclateri Mexican; Sclater's Chickadee
P. wollweberi Bridled Titmouse
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(Audobon Encyclopedia of North American Birds, 1982)

Identification Guide 
      Birds of the genus Parus are easily distinguished. The northern varieties are slightly larger than the southern ones. The two species which are the most difficult to differentiate are the Black-capped and Carolina Chickadee;however, there are behavioral differences between them. The precopulatory vocalizations of both sexes are quite different between the two species. The Carolina Chickadee's winter social group has "markedly less stable dominance hierarchies" than the Black-capped Chickadee. Compared with the Black-capped Chickadee the Carolina has unbalanced sex ratios within their flocks. In whistle production, the absolute pitch of the song is more important to Carolina Chickadees whereas Black-capped Chickadees rely on the relative pitch (Smith 1991). Physically, the Black-capped Chickadee is larger and has more white edging. The following is a comparison between the four species found in the Eastern United States (Peterson 1980). (See Audobon Encyclopedia of North American Birds for more information) 
 

Black-capped
Chickadee
Carolina
Chickadee
Boreal
Chickadee
Tufted
Titmouse
  • Black cap and bib 
  • White Cheeks 
  • Song: "Chick-a-dee-dee-dee" or "dee-dee-dee"
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  • No white area on wing 
  • Song: "Fee-bee," "Fee bay" highpitched and rapid
    		•
  • Dull Brown Cap 
  • Brown Flanks 
  • Song: "Chick-che-day-day" slow and wheezy
    		•
  • Grey with tufted crests 
  • Rusty flanks 
  • Song: "Peter, Peter, Peter" nasal and wheezy
    		•

    General Information 
          Birds of the genus Parus are small hardy birds which show little fear of humans. They are slow in flight, averaging only 11 miles per hour. They like to nest in holes. Both males and females clear stumps for nests, but only females build the nests and incubate the eggs.
          These birds are active and acrobatic. They preen frequently and produce an oil from the uropygial gland, which is located near the base of the tail. The oil covers each feather and serves as an insulator and also increases their flexibility.
          Their appearance changes little through their life. They have no distinguishable immature plummage. When they are young they undergo a partial molt around mid-summer and after that they molt once a year. Both parents share in parental duties. Generally, they only have one brood per year. Once the young leave the nest they form flocks with older birds (Smith 1991). Within these flocks there exists a hierarchy or pecking order. A birds rank within the flock affects both its behavior and survival. They roam in these small bands except during the breeding season when they form monogamous pair bonds ( http://www.seepub.com/chickade.html) 


    Learn more about P. bicolor
    Learn more about P. carolinensis
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