THE WHITE-BELLIED NUTHATCH. i 



THE WHITE-BELLIED NUTHATCH. 



The white-bellied nuthatch is the acrobat among birds. We have 

 seen that the brown creepers climb the trunks of trees with as much 

 agility as do the woodpeckers, but that they never descend by creep- 

 ing downward. The nuthatches, however, not only descend tree 

 trunks, but do so head first, and as these are the only birds with which 

 I am acquainted, which do this, they well bear the name of 

 acrobats. When coming down a tree trunk the bird will frequently 

 pause and raise its head to look about and then presents a peculiar 

 appearance, for its bill is thrown outward and upward. This habit 

 of descending the tree head first is so characteristic of the nuthatches 

 that they may be readily distinguished by it. 



The white-bellied nuthatch is bluish above with a black head and 

 nape, and white beneath. They may be found continually in the North- 

 ern States all winter. vSometimes at this season we find the red- 

 bellied nuthatch, which is smaller and is red beneath, but otherwise- 

 has generally similar markings to the white-bellied. 



Like the brown creepers, a few nuthatches remain in Mass- 

 achusetts and southward to breed, but the greater portion go further 

 north. 



Figure 7. 



White-bellied Nuthatch. A, tongue. 



They nest in holes of trees which they often excavate for themselves. 

 When sitting, the female nuthatch is so tame that she may 

 be removed from the nest in the hand, then when released, will a) 

 once fly back again. 



