Parus atricapillus, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 100.
Black-capt Titmouse, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 241.
Adult Male. Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 3.
Bill short, straight, strong, compressed, rather obtuse; both mandibles with the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides sloping and convex, the edges sharp, that of the upper mandible slightly sinuate. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the recumbent feathers. Head large, neck short, body robust. Feet of ordinary length, rather robust; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes large, the three anterior united as far as the second joint; the hind one much stronger, and with its claw nearly as long as the middle toe. Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute.
Plumage blended, tufty; feathers of the head glossy. Wings of moderate length, the first quill scarcely half the length of the second, which is equal to the first secondary, the third and seventh about equal, the fourth and fifth equal and longest. Tail long, a little arched, emarginate and rounded, of twelve slender rounded feathers.
Bill brownish-black. Iris dark brown. Feet greyish-blue, as are the claws. The whole upper part of the head and the hind neck pure black, as is a large patch on the throat and fore-neck. Between these patches of black is a band of white, from the base of the bill down the sides of the neck, becoming broader behind, and encroaching on the back, which, with the wing-coverts, is ash-grey tinged with brown. Quills dark greyish-brown, margined with bluish-white, the secondary quills so broadly margined as to leave a conspicuous white dash on the wing; tail of the same colour, the feathers similarly edged. Lower parts brownish-white, the sides pale yellowish-brown.
Length to end of tail 5 1/8 inches, to end of wings 3 7/8, to end of claws 4 1/2; extent of wings 8 1/4; wing from flexure 2 10/12; tail 2 9/12; these measurements taken from three males. In another, the bill along the ridge 4 1/2/12; along the edge of lower mandible 7/12; tarsus 7/12; hind toe 3/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 5/12, its claw 3/12.
Adult Female. Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 4.
The Female is similar to the male.
