_Penthestes hudsonicus_
Similar to the Black-cap but crown dark brown;
back brownish ashy.
_Range._ Northern New England and Canada; rarely
further south in winter. Represented by three
races: the Acadian Brown-capped Chickadee (_P. h.
littoralis_) of northern New England, New
Brunswick. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland; the
Labrador Brown-capped Chickadee (_P. h.
nigricans_) of Labrador, and the Hudsonian
Brown-capped Chickadee (_P. h. hudsonicus_) of the
region west of Hudson Bay.
Until recent years the Brown-capped Chickadee was rarely seen far south
of its breeding range, but during several winters it has invaded New
England in considerable numbers and has been found in the lower Hudson
Valley, Long Island, Staten Island and northern New Jersey. At close
range an experienced observer may know it by its dark brown head, while
Brewster states that its "nasal, drawling, _tchick, chee-day-day_" at
once distinguishes it from the Black-cap. All three races have been
reported in these winter migrations and only expert examination of
specimens can determine whether the little wanderer is from Labrador,
New Brunswick, or the country west of Hudson Bay.