120 NORTH AMERICAX BIRDS. 



Sitta pygmsea, Vn;. 



PIGMY NUTHATCH. 



Siita pygmma, Vigors, Zotil. Bec-oht-y's Voy. 1839, 25, pi. iv. — Avd. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 

 pi. ccccxv. — Ib. Birds Am. IV, pi. ccl. — Reich. Haiitlb. 1853, 153, tab. dxiv, figs. 

 3365, 3366. — Newberry, P. R. R. Rep. VI, iv, 1857, 79. — B.iiRD, Birds N. Am. 

 1858, 378 ; Review, 88. — ScLATEit, P. Z. S. 1859, 363 (Xalapa). — Ib. Catal. 1861, 

 15, no. 93. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 55. 



Sp. Char. Above ashy-blue ; head ami upper part of neck greeuish ashy-brown, its 

 lower border passing a little below the e3'e, where it is darker; nape with an obscure 

 whitish spot. Chin and throat whiti.sh ; rest of lower parts brownish-white; the sides 

 and behind like the back, but paler. Middle tail-feather like the back ; its basal half with 

 a long white spot ; its outer web edged with black at the base. Length about 4 inches; 

 wing, 2.40. 



Hab. Western and Middle Provinces of United States ; soutli to Xalapa. 



Thi.s species is closely related to Sitta puailht oi the Southern States. 

 Tlie brown of tlie head has, however, an olivaceous-green tinge not seen 

 in the other; the white spot on the nape less distinct. The middle tail- 

 feather has its basal half white and the outer web edged with black at tlie 

 base. This black edging is never seen in tlie other, and tlie wliite patch is 

 reduced to a faint trace, only visible in very lii^ldy ])liiraaged specimens. 



Habits. This diminutive species of Nutiiatcli is Ibuud throughout our 

 Pacific coast and on the western slope of tlie liocky Mountains, from Wash- 

 ington Territory to Southern California. It is also to be found in New 

 Mexico, and specimens have been procured from Mexico. 



Dr. Kenuerly found them quite abundant in the Sierra Madre and San 

 Francisco Mountains, even as high up as the snow-liue, seeking their insect 

 food among the tops of the lofty pines. Dr. Newberry frequently met with 

 these Nuthatches in the most wooded places on his route, where water was 

 near and any considerable amount of animal life visilile. He, however, 

 never met with them in the forests of yellow pine.?. Dr. Gambel mentions 

 their almost extraordinary abundance, in tlie winter montlis, in Ujjper Cali- 

 fornia. Around Monterey, at times, the trees appeared almost alive with 

 them, as they ran up and down and around tlie branches and trunks, utter- 

 ing their monotonous and querulous cries. Their note he describes as a 

 repeated whistling mt-wit. AVlien one utters this cry, tlie rest join in. 

 They also have a whistling trill wliile they are busily searching the tree in 

 every part, and they never leave tiU they have pretty thoroughly searched 

 every crack. 



Dr. Cooper only met with this Nuthatch in the open pine-forests about 

 Fort Colville, near the 49th parallel. Tliey were associated in small flocks 

 about the 20th of October, when there were heavy frosts at night. The 

 chirping noise they made resembled the cries of young chickens. Tlieir 

 habits were very similar to those of the PanJtriparus miniinns. 



