A diminutive black-capped chickadee perches on the bare branches of a cottonwood tree in early spring.

Captured in Indian Battle Park in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi using a 75-300mm lens.

The Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is a medium-sized, stocky chickadee with pale gray upperparts and breast and pale olive-brown underparts. The black cap and bib and white cheeks are conspicuous. It’s black bill is short and thin. Wings are dark with broad white edges on feathers. It is the state bird of Maine and Massachusetts. It is a common bird through North America from Alaska to Newfoundland, and as far south as northern California, across to northern New Mexico, Missouri, and Maryland.