Mitch and others, Identification of the Black-capped Chickadee is quite difficult in many circumstances and many places in Tennessee. It is found in certain high elevation habitats in some mountains of east Tennessee. Sometimes it can be identified away from the mountains in winter (particularly with a bird in the hand such as a dead specimen or one being held for banding). Considering the season and location you mentioned, your bird is almost certain to be a Carolina Chickadee. Don't basis your ID only on voice or song in this case. If you have not seen the bird but are trying to ID it based only on voice, then you probably are hearing a Carolina Chickadee. But, given the fact that you may just now be learning some of your local birds and calls, it will always help to chase it down and get a good look and use a good field guide. One of the most fun aspects about birding is digging thru such issues as you begin to gain experience. Here is an excellent website that will provide a great deal of information about these two species: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/chickadeeIDtable.htm Let's go birding . . . . Wallace Coffey Bristol, TN =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------ Assistant Moderator Andy Jones Cleveland, OH ------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Dave Worley Rosedale, VA -------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Chris O'Bryan Clarksville, TN __________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ARCHIVES TN-Bird Net Archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/ MAP RESOURCES Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com _____________________________________________________________