BIRDS OF NEW YORK 5OI 



Sitta pusilla Latham 



Brown-headed Nuthatch 



Sitta pusilla Latham. Index Orn. 1 790. 1 : 263 



A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 3. 1910. p. 346. No. 729 

 pusilla, Lat., very small 



Description. Top of the head and neck grayish brown; a partly con- 

 cealed white patch on the nape; upper parts bluish gray; under parts 

 dingy whitish; outer tail feathers black tipped with grayish. 



Length 4 inches; extent 8; wing 2.5; tail 1.25; bill .5; tarsus .6. 



Distribution. This little nuthatch breeds from southern Delaware and 

 Missouri to southern Florida and eastern Texas. It rarely straggles north- 

 ward as far as Ohio and Michigan. In New York it is a purely accidental 

 visitant, one specimen having been taken at Elmira, May 24, 1888, an adult 

 male (see Swift, Auk, 5:432). Everyone who has visited the states of the 

 southern coastal plain is familiar with this little bird. In habits it resem- 

 bles closely our nuthatches of the north. 



Family PARIDAE 



Titmice 

 Wings rather short and rounding; primaries 10; tail elongated, rounded, 

 the feathers softer than the stiffened feathers of thrushes and kinglets; 

 bill short, rather stout and practically straight, somewhat compressed 

 and conoid in shape; nostrils concealed by bristly tufts of feathers; tarsus 

 longer than the middle toe; feet short and stout; the toes joined for most 

 of the basal joint form a compact palm; the hind toe is padded, thereby 

 assisting these birds in their gymnastic feats while clinging to the smaller 

 branches of the trees; in size they are small; plumage is soft and usually 

 plain, the color of our native species consisting mostly of grays and grayish 

 brown and a little black. They are hardy little birds, some of them 

 remaining in the Canadian zone throughout the winter and all our New 

 York species are resident birds wherever found. They are of cheerful 

 disposition and great activity, continually exploring the twigs, branches 



