The Bird Book Part 103

The nesting habits of this brighter colored form are the same as those of the others.

726b. ROCKY MOUNTAIN CREEPER. _Certhia familiaris montana._

Range.--Rocky Mountains, breeding from New Mexico to Alaska.

The eggs of this grayer variety cannot be distinguished from those of the eastern birds and the nests are in similar situations.

726c. CALIFORNIA CREEPER. _Certhia familiaris occidentalis._

Range.--Pacific coast from southern California north to Alaska.

An abundant species, especially on mountain ranges, breeding behind the bark chiefly on pine trees. The eggs are not different from those of the others.

726d. SIERRA CREEPER. _Certhia familiaris zelotes._

Range.--Sierra Nevada Mountains in California and the Cascade Range in Oregon.

Very similar to the last and with the same habits; eggs indistinguishable.

[Ill.u.s.tration 432: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Brown Creeper.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 431

NUTHATCHES AND t.i.tS. Family SITTIDae

727. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. _Sitta carolinensis carolinensis._

Range.--United States east of the Rockies, breeding from the Gulf to southern Canada; resident throughout its range.

These birds are creepers, but unlike the last species, these run about on the trunks, either up or down; their tails are not pointed and stiffened like those of the Brown Creepers, and their plumage is gray and black above with a black crown, and white below. They nest in holes in trees, usually deep in the woods and at any elevation from the ground; they nearly always use deserted Woodp.e.c.k.e.rs' holes but are said at times to excavate their own, with great labor as their bills are little adapted for that work. They line the cavities with bark strips and hair or feathers, and during April or May, lay from four to nine white eggs, profusely specked with reddish brown and lilac. Size .80 .60. Data.--Lancaster, Ma.s.s., May 16, 1902. Nest in hole in an oak tree, 45 feet above ground; made of fine strips of bark fibre and hair.

727a. SLENDER-BILLED NUTHATCH. _Sitta carolinensis aculeata._

Range.--North America, west of the Rockies and from Mexico to British Columbia.

This species is as abundant in the west as the last is in the east, and nests in like situations. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the eastern birds.

727b. FLORIDA WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. _Sitta carolinensis atkinsi._

Range.--Florida and the South Atlantic coast to South Carolina.

The habits and eggs of these birds are like those of the northern ones.

727c. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NUTHATCH. _Sitta carolinensis nelsoni._

Range.--Rocky Mountains from Mexico north to British Columbia.

Their nesting habits or eggs are not distinctive in any respect.

727d. SAN LUCAS NUTHATCH. _Sitta carolinensis lagunae._

Range.--Mountain ranges of Lower California.

Said to be like _aculeata_ but with the wings and tail slightly shorter.

[Ill.u.s.tration 433: White-breasted Nuthatch.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 432

728. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. _Sitta canadensis._

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 breeding 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 .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.

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 .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.

730. PYGMY NUTHATCH. _Sitta pygmaea pygmaea._

Range.--North America west of the Rockies, breeding from Mexico north to British Columbia. Resident throughout its range.

This species has an olive gray crown bordered 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 .50.

Data.--Huachuca Mts., Arizona, May 25, 1901. Nest in cavity (10 inches deep) in dead pine stump about 15 feet from the ground; composed of a ma.s.s of vegetable down; alt.i.tude 9000 feet.

[Ill.u.s.tration 434: Red-breasted Nuthatch.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Brown-headed Nuthatch.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]