Julie wrote:
> There is a black-capped chickadee with a completely white tail (instead
of
the typical blackish gray) that has been frequenting my feeders for the
past
couple of months. When I first noticed it, it's tail was long and fairly
healthy. But now the tail is mangled and quite short.>

The deterioration of the white tail may be related to the fact that white
feathers are weaker than pigmented ones (the melanin apparently strengthens
the feather) and chickadees often - or usually - roost in cavities where
their tails may get cramped into spaces a little too small. In the winter I
see the occasional "curly-tailed" chickadee, its tail bent around in a
curve probably reflecting the curvature of a tree cavity.

P.S. Regarding posting about birds outside of Tweeter range, I hope an
occasional report from Alaska is not too far to the NW.

Chris Maack
Anchorage, AK
CMaack at compuserve.com