io6 Bird Studies. 



The Nuthatches all have a note in common, differing in quality. Ank, 

 ank, or Ank, ank, ank, perhaps describes it best. This note is constantly 

 heard when the birds are about, frequently betraying their presence, for they 

 are small and rather inconspicuous. 



All the kinds have sober mantles of slate or lead color, while below 

 they vary as we shall see. 



The White-breasted Nuthatch is the larger of the group, being about 



six inches long. The males have a glossy black cap extending well back on 



^iri--,. u ^ J the neck. The region about the eye and sides of the face. 

 White-breasted ,,,,,• ai i i i- i 



Nuthatch breast, and belly are white. About the vent some reddish 



sitta caroiinensis Lath, browu feathcrs show amongst the white and the flanks are 



washed with a similar tint. The middle tail feathers are like the back in 



color, the next are black with white tips, and grade into almost white feathers 



with some black near their tips and bases, on the outer tail feathers. The 



wings are dusky, showing much of the color of the back on the exposed edges 



and surfaces of the feathers, many of which have whitish tips. The female is 



like the male, but the black of the cap is suffused to a greater or less extent 



with the bluish lead color of the back. 



These are the representative White-breasted Nuthatches from Georgia 



north to the Southern British provinces, breeding and resident throughout 



that range. 



The Florida White-breasted Nuthatch is essentially like its close relative 



of the North. It is smaller with less white markings on 

 Florida White- , . , ^, / w , / /•/ • / 



h pa<?ted Nuthatch *■ ^^"^g- ^"<^ ^''-'^ sexes nave the cap viicc/i alike in color. 

 Sitta caroiinensis atkinsi Thesc birds are found in Florida and Southern Georgia, 

 where they are resident and breed. 



The Red-breasted Nuthatch is about four and a half inches long. The 



adult male bird has a glossy black cap, defined by a clear narrow white line 



Red-breasted J"^*" ^^ove the eye. The region from the front of the eye 



Nuthatch. ^o the bill is glossy black, becoming broader as it reaches 



Sitta canadensis Linn, back ou the sldes of the head as far as the crown patch. 



Below this black is an area of white extending on the throat and merging 



