Hi Folks!
 
I might add something that is not in most field guides.  If you look at where the black of the head meets the nape, on Carolina the black is rounded and has a limited boundary with the gray back and on tBlack-capped, the nape is squared with a larger shared boundary with the gray of the back.  Additionally, the corners of the bib on Black-capped are "ragged".  
 
The Black-caps that are arriving are from the northern subspecies and are different from the residents of western Maryland and most of Pennsylvania.  They average larger, have proportionately long tails [watch when they fly onerhead] and the very white cheeks really contrast with the underparts.
 
There is no record for Wicomico County and it is umcommon even during invasions on the Coastal Plan.  I have not seen on in Calvert [yet].  All reports from the Coastal Plain are of interest. 
 
Good Birding!
 
Jim
 
Jim Stasz
North Beach MD
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim & Kathleen Wilson <>
To: 
Sent: Wed, 9 Nov 2005 12:37:27 -0500
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees


I found this web site from Cornell that contains good info about the differences between the 
black-capped and Carolina Chickadees. 
 
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/chickadeeIDtable.htm 
 
Jim Wilson 
Queenstown