36 The Birds of Albany County 



Hudsonian Chickadee. — Parus hudsonicus. 5.32 



Rare Winter Visitant 



Field marks. — General appearance similar to atricapillus, but 

 slightly longer; blacks replaced by brownish-gray; 

 plumage looks ragged. 



A few individuals of this species have been observed 

 occasionally near West Albany in midwinter in company 

 with common Chickadees or American Goldfinches. Its 

 breeding range is farther north. While the habits of 

 hudsonicus are similar to those of our own cheerful little 

 Chickadee, its notes are said to be quite unlike. 



Subfamily Sittinae 



White-breasted Nuthatch. — Sitta carolinensis. 6.08 



Common in Spring and Fall; Rare in Summer and Midwinter 



Field marks. — Nasal note, described below, repeated con- 

 stantly as it creeps up and down tree trunks; plumage 

 grayish-blue, black and white. 



About the only note of this hardy bird — an oft repeated 

 krank, k™ n k> k™nk — ls often the only sound one hears, when 

 abroad in the woods in gray November or breezy March. 

 Occasionally, as the love-season approaches, he becomes so gay 

 as to attempt a slight song, which is mainly the repetition of 

 one syllable on about the same key. He is not exactly a 



