238 PASSERES : Perching Birds 



SLENDER-BILLED NUTHATCH 



(727 &. Sitta carolinensis aculeata) 5| in. 



Male: Shining blue-black crown and back of neck; snow-white 

 sides of head, neck, and throat; back blue-gray; wings darker, 

 whitish-edged; breast white, becoming gray on belly. 



Female: Similar, except top of head gray. 



Bill straight, awl-shaped, used to some extent as a digging 

 tool. Tail stubby. 



Call: A nasal "ank," or "yank," several times repeated. 



ROCKY MOUNTAIN NUTHATCH 



(727c. Sitta carolinensis nelsoni) 5f in. 

 Larger and somewhat darker than the Slender-bill, but like it 

 in all essential details, habits, etc. 



PYGMY NUTHATCH 



(730. Sitta pygmaea pygmaea) 4 in. 



Blue-gray above, except gray-brown top of head and neck; 

 cheeks and chin white, otherwise buffy below; dusky stripe from 

 bill across eye; a partly concealed whitish spot on nape. 



A gleaner among twig-tips of conifers as well as on the trunks. 

 Has an odd way of breaking out in a series of excited sharp 

 chirps at intervals, then silent for a considerable time. 



WHITE-NAPED NUTHATCH 



(730a. Sitta pygmaea leuconucha) 4J in. 

 Generally lighter than the Pygmy, with the nape-spot larger 

 and whiter (hence the name). Habits in every way similar. 



