WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 



727. Sitta carolinensis. 6 inches. 



Male with the crown bluish black; female with the 

 crown gray ; both sexes with chestnut under tail coverts. 



These birds seem to be the very opposite of the Brown 

 Creepers. Their tails are short and square, and nearly 

 always pointed toward the zenith, for Nuthatches usually 

 clamber among the branches and down the tree trunks, 

 head first. 



Note. A nasal "yank-yank," and a repeated "ya-ya," 

 all on the same tone. 



Nest. In cavities of hollow limbs and trunks of 

 trees at any elevation from the ground; the cavity is 

 filled with leaves and usually lined with feathers; eggs 

 white, spotted with reddish brown ( .75 x .55 ) . 



Range. Eastern United States, breeding from the 

 Gulf to southern Canada; resident in most of its range. 

 727b. Florida White-breasted Nuthatch (atkinsi) is 

 slightly smaller; other races are found west of the 

 Rockies. 



