60 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Red-breasted JNuthatoh 



broad distinct white line over the eye. This is a more northern 



species than the last, 

 and can easily be 

 distinguished by the 

 black line on the 

 sides of the head 

 and neck, and the 

 generally brown un- 

 der parts. 



Length, 4|; wing, 2 J 



(2J-2i); tail, IJ; cul- 



J. Nortli Amer- 



breeding from 



men, 

 ica ; 



northern Kew York, 

 northern Michigan 

 northward (farther 

 south in the Allegha- 

 nies and Rocky Moun- 

 tains) , and wintering 

 soutliwards to the Gulf. 



3. Brown-headed Nuthatch (729. Sltta pusllla). — A small, 

 brown-crowned, bluish-backed, whitish-bellied nuthatch, with 

 no white line over the 

 eye, but with a whitish 

 patch on the back neck. 

 This is the nuthatch of 

 the southern pine woods, 

 where it is found associ- 

 ated with woodpeckers, 

 but unlike them in their 

 tree-top living habits, it 

 scrambles up and down 

 the trunks from the bot- 

 tom to the top. All the nuthatches are much alike in habits, 

 and are wonderfully nimble in their movements. Most creepers 

 use the tail as an aid in supporting the body on perpendicular 

 surfaces ; but these birds make no such use of their short, 

 square tails. The woodpecker's feet are strengthened by having 



Brown-headed Nutliatoli 



