I hope other people, especially Atlassers, respond to this well.? This is one of Maryland's interesting breeding bird questions.? 

The area that you were walking is probably the most difficult area to identify chickadees in Maryland.? 
The ridge between Hancock and Sidling Hill appears to be a mixing area of the chickadees.? I was shown this area several years ago by Jim Stasz, who has a favorite line, "I've never identified a chickadee on Woodmont Rd."? I have to agree with him that I've never seen a "pure" looking individual of either species on that ridge.? 

Along the canal, I suppose Carolinas would be more likely, especially towards Hancock.? For myself and other county listers, we usually say to go to the top of Sidling Hill for "pure" breeding Black-caps (who knows their true genetics?) in Washington County.? I don't believe any Carolinas were found in Allegany County during the Atlas.? 

So, to answer your question, you probably were seeing a bit of both species, possibly even in the same bird. 

Good birding,

Matt Hafner
Blacksburg, VA

-----Original Message-----
From: David Smith and Melody Nevins <>
To: 
Sent: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 10:26 am
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Black-capped vs Carolina Chickadees



Hoping for some input on the range of the two species of chickadees in 
Maryland.

We haven't birded western MD very much and were wondering at what point 
the range of the Carolina Chickadee transitions to Black-capped Chickadees. 
We hiked about 12 miles of the C&O Canal towpath yesterday starting in 
Hancock (Washington County) and moving west. Along the way, we studied 
some groups of chickadees, trying to determine if we thought there were any 
Black-capped Chickadees. Of course, all of the chickadees' feathers were fairly 
worn. At times, we had ones with very gray secondaries and at other times, 
ones with more white on the secondaries.

We've always seen Black-capped Chickadees out of state where Carolinas 
were not present, making it a little easier. Is it possible we were seeing a bit 

of both species in this area of Maryland?

Thanks!

mln and dcs


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