What is this bird?

[tonysmith]

This bird, along with its mate, has made a nest in a hole in an old tree stump at the bottom of my garden. From dawn to dusk, at intervals of no more than a few minutes, they take turns bringing food to their young ones invisible inside the stump. I am astonished by their devotion. Can anyone identify this bird for me?

[attachment=22077:bird.jpg]

[k bennett]

First thought is Chickadee -- where are you located?

Here's the Carolina Chickadee:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_Chickadee/id

The Black-Capped looks exactly the same, and is differentiated by location and call.

[wolfnowl]

Ypu, definitely a Chickadee.  Not a Mountain or a Chestnut-backed for sure, most likely a Black-capped.  They're wonderful little birds.  You can go out into the woods in the dead of winter in the middle of a snowstorm and they'll be flitting around, caching food, finding insect eggs and generally having a good time.

Mike.

[k bennett]

Depends on his location. All we get here are Carolina chickadees. Up in the mountains we'll start getting Black-Capped, and they hybridize where their ranges overlap.

[tonysmith]

Depends on his location. All we get here are Carolina chickadees. Up in the mountains we'll start getting Black-Capped, and they hybridize where their ranges overlap.

I am located in Toronto, Canada. I think you are both right that it is a black-capped chickadee. Your suggestions steered me to this: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/id, which seems to confirm the probability.

Many thanks

Tony