002 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



difference; either species goes to the ground freely and hunts for food, 

 sometimes for several minutes at a time. The idea advanced by Sanderson 

 that the VVhite-belHed Nuthatch opens acorns, and perhaps other seeds, 

 mainly or entirely for the worms contained, is certainly not tenable in 

 regard to the present species and does not commend itself for either species 

 so far as our observation goes. 



The note of the Red-bellied Nuthatch is often written "hank, hank, 

 hank," as for the White-bellied species, but in reality the notes are widely 

 different in pitch and in resonance; those of the Red-bellied Nuthatch 

 have been aptly likened to "a tiny tin trumpet," and the syllables "teng, 

 teng, teng" perhaps give some slight idea of the sound. 



While the feeding habits of the two birds are quite similar, and l)oth 

 get a large amount of food from the boles and branches of large trees, the 

 present species is much oftener seen on the slender branches and among 

 the tufts of dead leaves which cling to the twigs through the winter, where 

 it undoubtedly collects many a choice morsel in the shape of hibernating 

 insects, ]iup?p and eggs. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult male: Head above, from bill to nape, black; remainder of the upper parts clear 

 Ijluish gray, the wing-feathers more brownish; a white stripe from bill to nape over the 

 eye and a l^lack stripe through the eye from bill to side of neck; cliin white, shading into 

 pale reddish-brown, which becomes deeper on the breast, belly and particularly on the 

 sides, which it covers completely; middle tail-feathers bluish gray like the back, others 

 black, with white blotches, much as in the White-bellied Nuthatch. Tlie female is similar, 

 except that the black of the crown and nape is reijlaced by dark gray. The seasonal 

 changes are slight. 



Length 4.10 to 4.7f> inches; wing 2.60 to 2.85; tail 1..W. 



Family 70. PARID/E. Titmice, Chickadees. 

 The four Michigan species may be separated as follows: 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



A. With a conspicuous crest (Fig. 148). Tufted Titmouse. No. 312. 

 AA. Not crested. B, BB. 



B. Top of head glossy black. C, CC. 



C. Outer web of wing and tail feathers white edged. Black-capped 



Chickadee. No. 313. 

 CC. Outer web of wing and tail feathers not white edged. Carolina 

 Chickadee. No. 314. 

 BB. Top of head clear brown. Hudsonian Chickadee. No. 315. 



312. Tufted Titmouse. Baeolophus bicolor (Linn.). (731) 



Synonyms: Tufted Tit, Tufted Chickadee, Crested Titmouse, Peto Bird. — Parus bicolor, 

 Linn., 1700, Wils., 1808, Aud., 1831. — Lophophanes bicolor, Bonap., IS.W, and many 

 others. 



Figure 148. 



The conspicuous crest (Hke the Blue Jay's), the gray upper parts, soiled 

 white underparts and rusty sides, combine to mark this species beyond 

 question. 



