io6 Bird Studies. 



The Nuthatches all have a note in common, differing in quality. Ank, 

 ank, or Ank, ank, ank, perhaps describes it best. This note is constantly 

 heard when the birds are about, frequently betraying their presence, for they 

 are small and rather inconspicuous. 



All the kinds have sober mantles of slate or lead color, while below 

 they vary as we shall see. 



The White-breasted Nuthatch is the larger of the group, being about 



six inches long. The males have a glossy black cap extending well back on 



\A/h> h t d ^^^ neck. The region about the eye and sides of the face. 



Nuthatch. breast, and belly are white. About the vent some reddish 

 sitta cMoiinensis Lath, browu feathers show amongst the white and the flanks are 

 washed with a similar tint. The middle tail feathers are like the back in 

 color, the next are black with white tips, and grade into almost white feathers 

 with some black near their tips and bases, on the outer tail feathers. The 

 wings are dusky, showing much of the color of the back on the exposed edges 

 and surfaces of the feathers, many of which have whitish tips. The female is 

 like the male, but the black of the cap is suffused to a greater or less extent 

 with the bluish lead color of the back. 



These are the representative White-breasted Nuthatches from Georgia 

 north to the Southern British provinces, breeding and resident throughout 

 that range. 



The Florida White-breasted Nuthatch is essentially like its close relative 



,..,.. of the North. It is smaller with less white markings oh 



breasted Nuthatch ^^^ "^'^^S^ ^"^ ^/le sexes have the cap much alike in color. 



Sitta caroiinensis atkinsi These birds are found in Florida and Southern Georgia, 



■ where they are resident and breed. 



The Red-breasted Nuthatch is about four and a half inches long. ' The 



adult male bird has a glossy black cap, defined by a clear narrow white line 



Red-breasted J"^^ above the eye. The region from the front of the eye 



Nuthatch. to the bill is glossy black, becoming broader as it reaches 



Sitta canadensis Linn, back ou the sidcs of -the head as far as the crown patch'. 



Below this black is an area of white extending on the throat and merging 



