60 



KEY AND DESCRIPTIOX 



Eed-breasted Nnthatch 



broad distinct white line over the eye. This is a more northern 



species than the last, 

 and can easily be 

 distinguished by the 

 black line on the 

 sides of the head 

 and neck, and the 

 generally brown un- 

 der parts. 



Length, 4| ; wing,2| 

 (2i-2i); tail, IJ ; cul- 

 ineii, h. North Amer- 

 ica ; breeding from 

 northern New York, 

 northern Michigan 

 northward (farther 

 south in the Allegha- 

 nies and Rocky Moun- 

 tains), and wintering 

 southwards to the Gulf. 



3. Brown-headed Nuthatch (729. Sltta jjH.s/Wa). — A small, 

 brown-crowned, bluish-backed, whitish-bellied nuthatch, Avith 

 no white line over the 

 eye, but with a whitish 

 patch on the back neck. 

 This is the nuthatch of 

 the southern pine woods, 

 where it is found associ- 

 ated with woodpeckers, 



but unlike them in their ..^.^^^—^ _^^^ 



tree-top living habits, it -^^^^ v*^^^*— — — I 



scrambles up and down 



. , . IP - 1 1 i. Brown-headed Nuthatch 



the trunks from the bot- 

 tom to the top. All the nuthatches are much alike in habits, 

 and are wonderfully nimble in their movements. ^Most creepers 

 use the tail as an aid in supporting the body on perpendicular 

 surfaces; but these birds make no such use of their short, 

 square tails. The woodpecker's feet are strengthened by having 



