240 THE RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 
sion of simple sylables, tew, tew, tew, tew, tew, which are musical, vibrant, and 
far-sounding, a sort of trumpeting, out of all proportion to the size of the bird. 
The nest of the Nuthatch is placed in a cavity carefully chiselled out and 
usually at a great height in an elm tree or perhaps an oak. Both sexes share 
the labor of excavation, and when the cavity is somewhat deepened one bird 
removes the chips while the other delves. Like all the hole-nesting species 
of this family, but unlike the Woodpeckers, the Nuthatches provide for their 
home an abundant lining of moss, fur, feathers, and the like. This precau- 
tion is justified from the fact that they are early nesters—complete sets of eggs 
being found no later than the second week in April. 
The male is a devoted husband and father, feeding the female incessantly 
during incubation, and with her sharing in the care of the large family long 
after many birds have forgotten their young. The yourg birds early learn to 
creep up to the mouth of the nesting hole to receive food when their turn 
comes ; and they are said to crawl about the parental tree for some days before 
they attempt flight. 
No. 104. 
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 
A. O. U. No. 728. Sitta canadensis Linn. 
Synonyms.—ReEp-BELLigp NurHatcu ; CANADIAN NuUTHATCH. 
Description.—4dult male: Crown and nape shining black; white sup- 
erciliary lines meeting on extreme forehead; a black band through eye; remaining 
upper parts grayish blue; wings fuscous, unmarked; tail-feathers, except upper 
pair, black; the outer pairs subterminally blotched with white in retreating order ; 
chin, and sides of head, and neck below the black, pure white; remaining under 
parts rusty or ochraceous-brown; bill short, subulate, plumbeous-black; feet dark 
brown. Adult female: Similar, but crown like the back, with only traces of black 
beneath; lateral head-stripe blackish; usually paler rusty below. Jmmature: 
Like adult female. Length, 4.25-4.75 (108.-120.6) ; average of seven Columbus 
specimens: wings 2.61 (66.3) ; tail 1.43 (36.3); bill .50 (12.7). 
Recognition Marks.—Pygmy size; black and grayish blue above; rusty be- 
low ; tree-creeping habits. 
Nesting.— Not known to breed in Ohio. Nest, of grasses, feathers, etc., in a 
hole of tree or stub, usually at lower levels. Eggs, 4 to 6, white or creamy-white, 
speckled with reddish brown and lavender. Average size, .59 x .47 (15. x II.9). 
General Range.—North America at large, breeding from northern New 
England, northern New York, and northern Michigan northward, and southward 
