116 YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES 



PLAIN TITMOUSE 





BUSH-TIT 





V"-- X'J'^^"^ '■ • .. '-«, 



WHITE-BREASTED 

 NUTHATCH 



head downward as they forage at the 

 tips of branches. Nests in natural tree 

 cavities or abandoned woodpecker 

 holes. 



Frecjuents chiefly open coniferous 

 forests or the margins of dense stands, 

 in the high Upper Sonoran to the Hud- 

 sonian life-zones. R. chiefly in the Ca- 

 nadian and Hudsonian life-zones in the 

 Yoseniite region but also in the Transi- 

 tion zone. Seen in Yoscmite Vallev and 

 occasionally nests there. 



PLAIN TITMOrSE (Parus inorna- 

 tus): 5-5/2 in. Upper parts olive or 

 brownish - gray ; under parts lighter; 

 crested: conspicuous dark eye. Wheezy 

 chickadee-like call. Nests in abandoned 

 woodpecker holes or in natural cavities 

 in trees. 



Frequents open woodland, chieflv of 

 oaks or pinon and juniper. R. largely 

 in the Upper Sonoran life-zone. Occurs 

 at low elevation in the western part of 

 the Yoscmite region. Rare in Yosemite 

 Valley. 



BJ'SH-TIT fP.<!aItri parus minimus): 

 4-4'/'4 in. Back Ught grayish-brown: top 

 of head brown: ynder parts paler: lo7ig, 

 slender taU. Call a chattering tst, tst, 

 as it slips through the brush. Often 

 hangs head downward as it forages at 

 the tins of branches. Usually the birds 

 travel in small flocks. Nest long and 

 pendant with a small opening at one 

 siHc near the place of attachment. 



Frequents areas of chaparral or 

 mixed brush and small trees chiefly in 

 the Upper Sonoran life-zone. ^Vide- 

 '•iiread R. but absent from higher 

 '"ountains, deserts. R. at lower eleva- 

 tions in the western part of the Yosem- 

 \tn region. Has been seen near Glacier 

 Point and commonly in Yosemite Val- 

 lev. 



NUTHATCHES: Family Sittidae 



WHITE-BREASTED SVT HATCH 

 ( Sitta carolincnsis) : 5-6 in. Top of head 

 and nape black; back blue-gray; tail 

 short: under tail coverts reddish-brown; 

 outer tail feathers black with white 



