THE BIRD BOOK 



Red-breasted Nuthatch 



728. Red-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta cana- 

 densis. 



Range. — North America, breeding from the 

 northern tier of states northward, and farther 

 south in mountain ranges; winters south to 

 southern United States. 



This species is smaller than 

 the last and has reddish brown 

 underparts and a black stripe 

 through the eye. The breed- £ .»» 

 ing habits are the same as those J ^ i *'-' 



of the White-bellied variety, but 

 these birds almost invariably 

 coat the tree below the opening with pitch, 

 for what purpose is unknown. They lay from 

 four to six white eggs, numerously spotted 

 with reddish brown; size, .60 x .50. Data.-- 

 Upton, Maine, June 21, 1898. Nest in hole of 

 dead birch stub, 20 feet from the ground; made 

 of strips of bark and a few feathers. 5 eggs. 



729. Brown-headed Nuthatch. Sitta pusilla. 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf States. 



This species has a yellowish brown crown and whitish underparts. Their 



habits are like those of the other Nuthatches, they nesting in 



jf-l? *"•>-, cavities at varying heights, from two to fifty feet from the ground. 



*'•>.' ;'•'..• 'A That they sometimes depart from the usual custom is evidenced 



& j> .A* *-y by the data accompanying this egg. They lay from four to 



*«§££$£''''' seven eggs, white with profuse markings of reddish brown; size 



White '^ x ' 4 ^' Data. — St. Mary's Ga. Nest situated under the bark 



of an old dead pine stump, 4 feet from the ground; made of fine 



strips of bark. 



730. Pygmy Nuthatch. Sitta pygmasa 

 pygmcea. 



Range. — North America west of the Rockies, 

 breeding from Mexico north to British Colum- 

 bia. Resident throughout its range. 



This species has an olive gray crown bor- 

 dered by dusky, the back is ashy blue and the 

 underparts soiled white or rusty. They are 

 common in mountains of western United States, 

 nesting in holes in trees the 

 same as the other species of 

 Nuthatches. They lay from five 

 to nine eggs which are white, 

 speckled thickly with reddish 

 brown; size .60 x .50. Data. — 

 Huachucha Mts., Arizona, May White 



25, 1901. Nest in cavity (10 inches deep) in 

 dead pine stump about 15 feet from the ground; 

 composed of a mass of vegetable down ; alti- 

 tude 9000 feet. 



432 



Brown-headed Nuthatc 



