FAMILY PARIDJ3. NUTHATCHES, TITMICE, ETC 



317 



FAMILY PARID/E. 



Nuthatches, Titmice, etc. 



SUBFAMILY SITTING. 

 Nuthatches. 



Bill, as illustrated ; nostrils, concealed by 

 bristly tufts ; tarsus, scutellate ; first primary, 

 very short ; tail feathers, not stiff and pointed. 

 The white-bellied Nuthatch is sometimes mis- 

 taken by the novice for a small Woodpecker. 

 If tail feathers are stiff and pointed, look for 

 the bird under Family Picidae. 



Crown, black; back, gray, without white; 

 wings, not heavily spotted with white; 

 tail feathers, not stiff or pointed ; toes, 

 four, three in front, one behind; wing, 

 3.50 to 3.75 inches long. 



White-breasted Nuthatch. 

 Sitta carolinensis, and races. 

 See No. 547. 



Bill, more than three eighths inch long; 

 underparts, pale rufous brown ; crown, 

 black (male) ; crown, bluish gray (fe- 

 male) ; wing, 2.60 to 2.85 inches long. 



Red-breasted Nuthatch. 



Sitta canadetisis. 



See No. 549. 



Bill, more than three eighths inch long; 

 crown, grayish brown ; underparts, 

 dull grayish white; wing, 2.40 to 2.70 

 inches long. 



Brown-headed Nuthatch. 

 Sitta pusilla. 



See No. 550. 



