“But north Texas chickadees have a black cap”

 

Carolina Chickadee

Yes…but they aren’t called ‘black-capped chickadees”. The species of chickadee in this area is the almost identical ‘Carolina chickadee’. Even though it has a black cap it’s not what some people think. Actually, there are seven separate chickadee species in North America in all, and not one of them cares at all if you call it by the wrong name.

WHY HOLLOW?

Almost all birds have hollow bones. It helps enable flight by reducing their weight.   An exception is Penguins – who don’t fly anyway (and would have difficulty swimming with hollow bones).

 

Owen Yost, in addition to blogging, is a Landscape Architect emeritus from here, who‘s worked in north Texas for over 30 years.  He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), International Society of Landscape Architects, the National BirdFeeding Society, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society. He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award by the Native Plant Society of Texas. His design office is at northwestern68@yahoo.com