Sitta canadensis 
Bethel, Maine, 
Two Canada nuthatches engage in a vocal duet. 
1907 
January 19 
Canada Nuthatches are common in the Glen Woods just at 
present, associating with Chickadees (of both species) and with C-olden- 
crested Kinglets. I seldom find more than two of the Nuthatches to¬ 
gether, however, They were very noisy this forenoon (I0-II.30). Twice 
I heard two performing wEa&tt seemed to me an antiphonal duet, one bird 
uttering the usual nasal whining, the other a kec-kec-kec etc., given 
rapidly and practically without cessation for minutes at a time and 
sounding at a distance very like the barking of a Red Squirrel. These 
kec notes, however, are really softer and more evenly continuous than 
are the coughing ones of the Squirrel as I had ample opportunity for 
determining this morning by actual comparison. I watched one of the 
Nuthatches as it whined almost incessantly for several minutes in re¬ 
sponse to the barking of another concealed not far off in dense ever¬ 
green foliage. The bird I saw was perched on the topmost spire of a 
* 
tall living balsam where it sat rather erect, turning its head from 
side to side, jerking its tail and flirting its wings, with great ani¬ 
mation.' The duets just described were anthiphonal in the sense that 
one bird invariably used a distinctly different set of notes from those 
given by the other. Both birds, however, were usually calling at the 
same time. They seemed very excited and eager. The Chickadees with 
them showed no unusual excitement. 
