314 
PASSER] FORMES 
731. Tufted Titmouse, la mesange huppe d’amerique. Baeolophus bicolor. 
L, 6. The largest of our titmice without the characteristic chickadee colouring. All 
above, an almost even stone-grey; white below 
slightly washed on flanks with rufous. A distinct 
almost blue jay-like crest. 
Distinctions. The plain grey and unmarked 
coloration with striking crest are unmistakable dis- 
tinctions and field marks. Its common note, a loud 
clear Peeile-peetle — peetle, is most characteristic but 
is very like one of the phrases of the Orchard Oriole. 
Nesting. In old woodpecker’s holes, stumps, 
etc., in nest of leaves, moss, strips of bark, feathers, 
etc. 
Distribution. Southern and eastern United 
States north to and just touching Canadian bound- 
aries in the lower Great Lakes region. 
Figure 405 
Tufted Titmouse; about natural size 
The only Canadian records for the 
Tufted Titmouse are two noted on Point 
Pelee in southern Ontario in the western 
Lake Erie country. It is rather common on the Michigan side of Detroit 
River and even on Grosse Isle in midstream and should eventually be 
found on the Canadian side of the river, though as vet we have no record 
of its occurrence there. 
743. Little Bush Tit. la petite mesange des uuiskons. PsalLriparus minimus. 
L, 4. Like a very small kinglet in size, and perhaps the most inconspicuously coloured 
bird that we have. Dark brownish grey on back changing to warm sepia brown on crown; 
below, white, tinged with brownish on flanks. No definite markings anywhere. 
Distinctions. With small size likely to be mistaken only for a female Ruby-crowned 
Kinglet, but without any trace of green, suggestion of wing-bar, or light eye circle. Tail 
distinctly long and bill very short and stubby. 
Field Marks. Probably in life the Bush Tit looks like a diminutive kinglet with a 
long tail, greyish instead of greenish, and without wing-bars, light eye circle, or eyebrow stripe. 
Nesting. A beautifully woven pouch with entrance hole in the side, suspended from 
a branch. 
Distribution. Pacific coast of North America. In Canada known only from a few 
specimens near Vancouver, British Columbia. 
FAMILY SITTIDAE. NUTHATCHES 
The nuthatches are small, woodpecker-like birds in general habit, 
but their toes are of the usual Passerine type with three toes in front and 
one behind instead of the characteristic two and two of the woodpeckers. 
The bills are somewhat like those of the woodpecker in outline, but without 
their chisel-shaped point and are set on a slightly up-tilted angle with the 
head, giving a turned-up or retrousse appearance (Figure 406, compare 
with Figure 391, page 277). The colours of our species are characteristic. 
The name nuthatch is derived from their habit of wedging nuts and other 
hard food into crevices and “hatching” or hacking them until an entrance 
is made. Though capable of considerable excavating in wood or bark 
they do not use their powers to delve deeply into trees, but as a rule content 
themselves with flaking off the loose bark scales and searching the open 
cavities and seams. 
727. White-breasted Nuthatch, rig quank. la sittelle a poituink hlanche. 
Sitta carolinensis. L, 6-07. Plate LII A. Above, slate-blue with shiny black crown, himi- 
neck, and upper shoulders. Female: duller. Below, white, including all of face, with 
chestnut about vent and on undertail-coverts. Juveniles: with flanks and lower abdomen 
also slightly washed with chestnut. 
