Nests in Holes in Trees, Stumps, or Log^ 



Adult ? — The black of head replaced by gray. Length — ^4.62. 



Breeding Range — " May be roughly defined as embracing the entire 

 spruce-forested regions of northern New England, including 

 portions of Berkshire and Worcester counties, Massachusetts " 

 (Brewster). 



The nest, of fine grass, is in a cavity, usually in a decayed tree, 

 from four to fifteen feet from the ground. 4 to 6 eggs are laid ; 

 they are creamy white, with numerous reddish brown and laven- 

 der spots. Size — .60 X .48. 



In writing of this small nuthatch, Davie mentions a curious 

 fact connected with its nests : " The bark at their entrance is coated 

 with fir-balsam or pitch, from an inch to three or four inches 

 around the hole. In one instance the pitch extended down for 

 twenty-one inches, and was stuck full of the red breast feathers 

 of the nuthatches." The breeding season begins in June, occa- 

 sionally two broods being reared. 



729. Brown-headed Nuthatch : Sitta pusilla (Lath.) 



Adult — Upper parts gray ; top and back of head grayish brown, 

 with a spot of white over the nape ; under parts light gray 

 or whitish. Length — 4. 50. 



Breeding Range — From Virginia southward. 



Nest placed usually in a hole, made by the birds themselves, 

 in a stump or tree, within a few inches of, or as much as sixty 

 feet from, the ground. 



It is composed of "short pieces of grass, bits of cotton wool, 

 feathers, and the leaf-like substance of ' pine seed leaves ' " (Davie). 

 The eggs, 4 to 6 in number, are more or less heavily spotted 

 and blotched with reddish brown and pale lilac. Size — . 56 x .46. 



The Brown-Headed is the smallest of the Eastern nuthatches, 

 and is readily identified by the white spot on its neck. Breeding 

 season in March. 



731. Tufted Titmouse: Parus bicolor Linn. 



^</«//— Upper parts gray ; forehead black ; crest gray ; under 

 parts light gray, to white on the belly ; the sides washed 

 with reddish brown. Length — 6.00, 



Breeding Range — From northern New Jersey southward. 



no 



