on the nesting of a Red-breasted Nuthatch. 283


I was careful to stay near the nest only for a moment, but I

discovered afterwards that I need not have been so particular, for the

old birds, especially the male, seemed to be quite unconcerned when

I approached even to within 10 ft. or so of it.


The parents were now kept busy feeding their young, and I

saw them bring winged insects, small green caterpillars, and suet.

I was interested to find that the suet apparently formed a considerable

proportion of the young birds’ diet, and I saw the parents make many

trips from the suet-holders to the nest, a distance of some fifty yards.

The birds would generally make two or three trips to the suet and

then go off for something else.


On June 2nd, Mr. E. H. Forbush, State Ornithologist of

Massachusetts, came out to take some photographs. He looked into

the nest and could see at least six young birds which seemed to be

about ready to fly. They were still in the nest on June 4th, but on

the morning of June 5th the box was empty. We discovered some

of the young birds in pine trees not far away, and found that they

were active and could fly well. In fact they closely resembled the

adults except for being lighter in colour.


Several times during the next few days I saw some of the

young birds perched close to the suet, being fed with it by one of

their parents ; and in less than ten days after the young had left the

nest I saw two of them picking at it unaided.


The Nuthatches remained in the vicinity until some time in

August, but I have not seen them at all during the last six months.

It will be interesting to see whether or not any of them return in the

spring to nest.


As far as I have yet been able to ascertain, this is the first

record of the Red-breasted Nuthatch having nested in a bird-box, and

I would be glad to know if any other cases have ever been reported.


I never heard the Nuthatches give any “ song ” other than

their usual nasal notes, but during the breeding season they frequently

indulged in low conversational twitterings, which were both pleasing

and expressive.



