Bird Notes from Itasca County 121 



Rice Lake, and the species was both seen and heard constantly- 

 near the cabin on Lake Minnewanka:. Very shy and secretive. 



101. Brown Creeper — Certhia familiaris americana Bonap. 

 Little data is at hand concerning this unobtrusive little fel- 

 low. Although seen four times during July, there is no breeding 

 evidence at hand. Shows a decided preference for hard-woods. 



102. White-breasted Nuthatch — Sitta carolinensis caroUnensis 



Lath. 



A common resident and breeding species, though there seems 



to be somewhat of a fall migration of the species. More common, 



certainly, in the summer than in the winter. Heard often in 



both hard-wood and evergreen woods. 



103. Red-breasted Nuthatch — Sitta canadensis Linn. 



Neai-ly as common as the preceding species, the little red- 

 breasted nuthatch was often heard about camp, and seemed to 

 show a little preference for evergreen woods. There is no evi- 

 dence concerning breeding. 



104. Chickadee — Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus (Linn.) 

 Common during the summer and winter, and is a breeding 



species. A pair was seen with four youngsters just out of the 

 nest on August 16. Heard in song during the entire stay in the 

 woods, and the "dee-dee-dee" notes were the ones most often heard. 



105. Ruby-crowned Kinglet — Regulus calendula calendula (Linn.) 

 A single male of this species was the only evidence of the 



presence of this little bird. On August 7 a male lit on the fence 

 around the flower garden not ten feet from the writer, flashed his 

 ruby crown several times, inspected him very carefully, and flew 

 away. 



106. Hermit Thrush — Hylocichla guttata pallasi (Cab.) 



Heard in song twice, on July 18 and 30. Seen several times, 

 but it is evident that the species is not very common within the 

 areas visited. Stays strictly within the hard-wood thickets, and 

 probably breeds there. 



107. Robin — Planesticus viigratorius migratorius (Linn.) 

 Common throughout the county. Seen in the burned-over 



areas in considerable numbers. A female was seen feeding her 

 young on August 3. One gets quite a different conception of our 

 everyday birds when met with miles away from any human hab- 

 itation! 



108. Bluebird— Sialia sialis sialis (Linn.) 



Found, like the robin, but not as commonly, in the burned- 

 over areas, where it nests in old woodpecker holes, usually in a 

 charred needle-like pine shaft. 



