484 
NUTHATCHES 
There is such a lack of sentiment in the Nuthatch’s character, he 
seems so matter-of-fact in all his ways, that it is difficult to imagine 
him indulging in anything like song. But even he can not withstand 
the all-conquering influences of spring, and at that season he raises his 
voice in a peculiar monotone — a tenor hah-hah-hah-hah-hah — sounding 
strangely like mirthless laughter. 
727b. S. ©. atkinsi Scott. Florida White-breasted Nuthatch. 
Similar to the preceding, but somewhat smaller, the wing-coverts and quills 
but slightly or not at all tipped with whitish, the female with the top of the 
head and nape black, as in the male. W., 3‘32; T., 1'80; B., *70. 
Range. — Breeds in Austroriparian fauna from Miss. e. along the coast 
to Fla., and n. to S. C. 
Nesting date , San Mateo, Fla., Mch. 16. 
728. Sitta canadensis Linn. Red-breasted Nuthatch. Ad. cf. — 
Top of head and a wide stripe through eye to nape shining black; a white 
line over eye; upperparts bluish gray, no black marks on secondaries, or 
tips to wing-coverts ; outer tail-feathers black, with white patches near their 
tips; middle ones bluish gray; throat white; rest of underparts ochraceous - 
buff. Ad. $. — Similar, but top of head and stripe through the eye bluish 
gray, like the back; underparts paler. 
L., 4-62; W., 2’66; T., 1'58; B., *50. 
Range. — N. A. Breeds in Canadian 
zone from the upper Yukon Valley, and 
N. F., s. to n. Minn., Mich., and Mass., 
and s. in the Sierra Nevada and Rocky 
Mts. to Calif., Ariz., and N. M., and in 
the Alleghanies to N. C. ; winters from s. Canada 
s. to L. Calif., and the Gulf States. 
Washington, irregularly abundant W. V., some- 
times rare, Sept. 15-May 10. Ossining, irregular 
W. V., Aug. 8-May 8. Cambridge, irregular T. V. 
and W. V., Aug. 15-Nov. 25; Nov. 25-Apl. 15. 
N. Ohio, tolerably common W. V., Sept. 4-May 
22. Glen Ellyn, irregular T. V., Apl. 24-May 21; 
Aug. 19-Dec. 12. SE. Minn., common T. V., uncommon W. V., Sept. 24- 
Apl. 21. 
Nest , of grasses, in a hole in a tree or stump. Eggs, 4-7, white or creamy 
white, speckled with cinnamon-, rufous-brown, and lavender, *60 x ‘47. 
Date , Calais, Maine, May 7. 
Fig. 134. Red - breasted 
Nuthatch. (Natural size.) 
While resembling the White-breasted Nuthatch, this more northern 
species differs from it sufficiently both in notes and appearance to be 
easily distinguished. Its black face-stripe is a noticeable character, 
while to the trained ear its higher, finer, more nasal, slightly drawled, 
penny-trumpet-like yna, yna is quite unlike the White-breast’s vigorous 
yank, yank. The Red-breast has an evident partiality for pine trees, 
and may be seen hovering about the cones while looking for a foothold 
from which to extract their seeds. 
729. Sitta pusilia Lath. Brown-headed Nuthatch. Ads. — Top and 
back of head grayish brown, sometimes tipped with pale ashy; a whitish 
patch on nape; no white over eye; rest of upperparts bluish gray; outer tail- 
feathers black, tipped with grayish , middle ones bluish gray; underparts 
grayish white; the breast, particularly in the fall, with a tinge of buff; sides 
gray. L., 4*50; W., 2'60; T., 1*25; B., *52. 
