Subject: Boreal Chickadees
Date: Jun 6 09:42:40 1994
From: Michael Smith - whimbrel at u.washington.edu



Yesterday on a hike north of the Teanaway River, we came across a rather
nasal sounding chickadee in subalpine habitat, which turned out to be 2
Boreal Chickadees. The vocalization was obviously different from the
more common Mountain Chickadees, and reminded me of Boreals I had heard in
Alaska. Looks at the birds showed no eyelines, but caps darker than the
National Geo. guide suggests (but I seem to remember that about Alaskan
Boreals as well). Anyway, the point I'm pondering is the range of
Boreals in Washington. Based on Wahl & Paulson's bird-finding guide, it
seems they are limited to the very far north (Pasayten Wilderness, Salmo
Priest Wilderness). Would it be unusual to find them where we did? The
location is south of Lake Ingalls, on the south-facing slope of the
Wenatchee Mountains (T23N,R15E, S25, Kittitas Co.), at approx 5800-6000
feet. Habitat was alpine parkland, and snow cover was absent in the
immediate area (but still alot of snow around away from the area). Any
hints on Boreal Chickadee distribution in WA?

Thanks in advance...

Mike Smith
University of Washington
whimbrel at u.washington.edu