Several have responded to my question about "other" Black-capped
Chickadee vocalizations. And I have checked in a number of guides. The
surprising aspect of the vocalization Phil Kelley and I saw/heard coming
from the bird last Sunday morning was it's musical quality. The
"dee-dee-dee ... chicka-dee-dee-dee" that I hear in the South Puget
Sound area (almost daily either from my yard in Lacey or on bird walks)
is a husky, hoarse series of sounds -- about the same tone as a cat
"spatting" -- percussive, not musical. The sound observed from last
Sunday's chickadee was very musical -- as from a flute, not a drum.
Both the guides and those who have responded to the query note the
"fee-bee" call, first note higher. And I'm ready to conclude that such
is what was observed. None of the guides, at least to my reading, seem
to emphasize that the "fee-bee" is so "musical" as compared to the
low-pitched, rough chicka-dee-dee thing. I think I remember seeing a
WOS journal article a year or so ago about a student at Univ. of Puget
Snd. doing work with chickadee songs and calls, and I'll try to find the
journal. Meanwhile I wanted to say thanks to everyone whose responded. A
couple attached what I believe are sound files, but unfortunately I have
not been able to open or play them due to my Nestscape illiteracy.
Again, thanks -- and good birding all!

Bill Ward
Lacey WA
wward at mail.cco.net