Nests in Holes in Trees, Stumps, or Logs 



the place where the bark is smooth, then he drops either to an- 

 other branch or to the foot of the next tree, and there he goes 

 through just the same performance again ; this continues, as far as 

 one can judge, from early morning till nearly dark. During the 

 breeding season, which begins about the middle of May, this bird 

 has a pleasing, though short, song. 



727. White-breasted Nuthatch: Sitta carolinensis Lath. 



Adult S — Upper parts gray; crown black, extending partly down 



the bacl<: ; under parts white; under tail feathers and lower 



part of bellv light chestnut. 

 Adult 9 — Crown and upper part of back dark gray. Length — 



6.07. 

 Breeding Range — Throughout the Eastern States from Georgia 



northward. 



The nest, of feathers, leaves, and hair, is placed in a hole in a 

 tree, a natural cavity, or the abandoned excavation made by a 

 woodpecker may be used indiscriminately, the height from the 

 ground being from sixty feet downwards. 



The eggs, numbering 5 to q, or even 10, are creamy or pinkish 

 white, with numerous spots and specks of light reddish, yellowish, 

 and purplish brown, rather more thickly distributed about the 

 larger end. Size — .77 x .56. See Fig. 4, Plate C. 



The White-breasted Nuthatch may be easilv distinguished 

 from other nuthatches by his superior size and the absence of 

 black on the cheek. The breeding season begins about the middle 

 of April, two broods being frequently reared. 



727b. Florida White-breasted Nuthatch : S. c. atkinsi 



Scott. 



A smaller sub-species of the common white-breasted nut- 

 hatch, the female resembling the male in having the black crown. 

 Range, Florida and South Carolina. 



728. Red-breasted Nuthatch: Sitta canadensis Linn. 



Adult 3— Upper parts gray; head black, with a white line over 

 the eye; under parts buffy red, except the throat, which is 

 white. 



109 



