THE BIRD BOOK 
Red-breasted Nuthatch 
728. Red-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta cana- 
densis. 
Range.— North America, breeding from the 
northern tier of states northward, and farther 
south in mountain ranges; winters south to 
southern United States. 
This species is smaller than 
the last and has reddish brown 
underparts and a black stripe 
through the eye. The breed- 
ing habits are the same as those 
of the White-bellied variety, but 
these birds almost invariably 
coat the tree below the opening with pitch, 
for what purpose is unknown. They lay from 
four to six white eggs, numerously spotted 
with reddish brown; size, .60 x .50. Data.— 
Upton, Maine, June 21, 1898. Nest in hole of 
dead birch stub, 20 feet from the ground; made 
of strips of bark and a few feathers. 5 eggs. 
White 
729. Brown-headed Nuthatch. Sitta pusilla. 
Range.— South Atlantic and Gulf States. 
This species has a yellowish brown crown and whitish underparts. Their 
habits are like those of the other Nuthatches, they nesting in 
cavities at varying heights, from two to fifty feet from the ground. 
That they sometimes depart from the usual custom is evidenced 
by the data accompanying this egg. They lay from four to 
seven eggs, white with profuse markings of reddish brown; size 
.60 x .48. Data. — St. Mary’s Ga. Nest situated under the bark 
of an old dead pine stump, 4 feet from the ground; made of fine 
strips of bark. 
White 
730. Pygmy Nuthatch. Sitta pygmcea 
pygmeea. 
Range. — North America west of the Rockies, 
breeding from Mexico north to British Colum- 
bia. Resident throughout its range. 
This species has an olive gray crown bor- 
dered by dusky, the back is ashy blue and the 
underparts soiled white or rusty. They are 
common in mountains of western United States, 
nesting in holes in trees the 
same as the other species of 
Nuthatches. They lay from five 
to nine eggs which are white, 
speckled thickly with reddish 
brown; size .60 x .50. Data. — 
Huachucha Mts., Arizona, May 
25, 1901. Nest in cavity (10 inches deep) in 
dead pine stump about 15 feet from the ground; 
composed of a mass of vegetable down; alti- 
tude 9000 feet. 
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White 
Brown-headed Nuthatch 
432 
