THE NUTHATCH 



SITT4 C&SIA 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A local resident, com- 

 monest in the southern and central English counties ; 

 rarer northwards, and accidental in Scotland ; unknown 

 in Ireland. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST 

 PAUL'S : This handsome bird is fairly uniformly distri- 

 buted over the Metropolitan area in all places suited to 

 its needs, breeding in many localities and frequently 

 visiting urban areas during the non-nesting season. It 

 may be met with in almost every locality given for the 

 Creeper, and precisely the same remarks apply to its 

 errant wanderings. It often visits the lawns of suburban 

 villas, has been noticed in Kensington Gardens, and I 

 have on several occasions seen it on trees growing by the 

 side of bus- and tram-frequented roads. It is said to 

 breed at Dulwich, and I have records of it doing so at 

 Richmond, Wimbledon, Merton, Epsom, Banstead, and 

 Croydon. In Middlesex it breeds at Osterley, Norwood, 

 Hanwell, Harrow, and Wembley, and is often seen at 

 Hendon, Hampstead, and Highgate, probably breeding 

 in the latter locality. It is, of course, found at Epping 

 and Wanstead, whilst across the river in Kent the Grays 

 are a favourite resort, and Langley Park may also be 

 mentioned. Beech woods and hazel coppices are favourite 

 resorts of this species, but the bird wanders far and wide, 

 and may be met with amongst every variety of timber, 

 old parks being a great attraction. 



Although more showy in coloration than the Creeper, 

 the Nuthatch, from its retiring ways, is almost as much 

 overlooked. It delights in precisely the same haunts, 

 and has the same way of appearing accidentally in a spot 



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