5OO NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



watin, northern Quebec, Newfoundland, southward to northern Minnesota, 

 Michigan, Massachusetts and in the mountains to California, New Mexico 

 and North Carolina. Winters from southern Canada to the gulf coast. 

 In New York this species is a fairly common transient visitant in all parts 

 of the State, but is somewhat irregular in appearance, sometimes being 

 extremely abundant in the coastal region and at other times in western 

 New York; other seasons very few are seen. The usual season of migration 

 in the spring is from March 15 to May 10, and in the fall from October 8 

 to November 22. It is also frequently seen throughout the winter in any 

 portion of the State which seems to offer sufficient food; but it is decidedly 

 more common, as stated before, in the migration season. It is a summer 

 resident of the Canadian zone of New York, being very abundant through- 

 out the Adirondack forests and in the Catskills above an altitude of 2000 

 to 3000 feet. This is probably one of the commonest breeding birds in 

 the Adirondacks, where its call is continually heard. As one canoes along 

 the Adirondack streams and lakes, its sharp nasal yna-yna-yna is continually 

 heard from the pines, spruces and balsams along the shore. Along the 

 trail, when crossing mountain ranges or ascending even the highest peaks, 

 one meets the same experience. It has also been reported as breeding 

 near Peterboro by Gerritt S. Miller jr; from West Falls by James Savage; 

 and from the vicinity of Branchport by Verdi Burtch. Ralph and Bagg 

 report eggs from Wilmurt taken May 30, 1887, and Holland Patent, April 

 30, 1889. Evidently the breeding season in the outskirts of the Adiron- 

 dacks corresponds very closely with the date for the White-breasted nut- 

 hatch, which ranges from April 25 to May 10 in western New York. The 

 nesting habits of the Red-bellied nuthatch are similar to those of its more 

 southern relative. The eggs are from 4 to 6 in number and average .62 

 by .50 inches. Similar in color to those of the White-breasted nuthatch. 



