NUTHATCHES AND TITS. 



389 



white over the eye ; rest of upper parts bluish gray ; outer tail-feathers black, 

 tipped with grayish, middle ones bluish gray ; \mder parts grayish white. 

 L., 4-50 ; W., 2-60 ; T., 1-25 ; B., -52. 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf States, north to Virginia; accidentally 

 to Missouri and New York. 



Nest^ of feathers, grasses, etc., generally near the ground, in a hole in a tree 

 or stump. Eggs.^ five to six, white or creamy white, heavily spotted or blotched 

 with cinnamon- or olive-brown, -56 x -46. 



This little Nuthatch, the Red-eockaded Woodpecker, and Pine 

 Warbler, are characteristic birds of the great pineries in our Southern 

 States. Frequently they are found associated. The Woodpeckers 

 generally keep to the tree tops, the Warblers live on or near the ground, 

 while the Nuthatches scramble actively about from the base of the 

 trunk to the terminal twigs. The only note I have heard them utter 

 is a conversational tnee, tnee. They are talkative sprites, and, like a 

 group of school children, each one chatters away without paying the 

 slightest attention to what his companions are saying. 



'?31. Parus bicolor (Linn.). Tufted Titmouse. Ad. — Forehead 

 black ; rest of the upper parts, wings, and tail gray ; under parts whitish ; 

 sides washed with rufous ; a conspicu- 

 ous crest. L., 6-00; W., S'lO; T., 2-70; 

 B., -42. 



Range. — Eastern United States ; 

 breeds from the Gulf States to southern 

 Iowa and northern NewJersev; resi- 

 dent throughout its breeding range, 



Washington, very common P. R., 

 more so in winter. 



Nest., of leaves, moss, strips of bark, 



feathers, etc., in Woodpeckers' deserted 



holes, stumps, etc. Eggs., five to eight, 



white or creamy white, rather coarsely 



and evenly marked with rufous-brown. Fig. 114.— Tufted Titmouse. (Natural 

 ►.-, f.- size.) 



The Tufted Titmouse is a bird of very general distribution in wood- 

 lands, where its presence is always made known by its notes. Its couj- 

 mon call is a loud, clearly whistled pdo., peto, peto, peto, which may be 

 repeated by the same individual for hours at a time. Occasionally the 

 key is changed, and at first the notes are decidedly pleasing, but the 

 bird finally wearies one by its monotonous repetition. 



It utters also other whistled calls, and a de-de-de-de, much like the 

 notes of the Chickadee, though somewhat louder and hoarser. 



The Tufted Tit is not a shy bird and may be approached with ease. 

 Its conspicuous crest is an excellent field mark. 



