Page:Birdcraft-1897.djvu/119



  The Nuthatches are great friends of the Kinglets and Titmice, and often travel in flocks with them. They pass for being shy, but are not so in reality, but merely elusive because of their restless habits, which seldom allow them to stay in one spot long enough to be examined. In fact “tree mice,” the local name our farmers give them, is quite appropriate.

This species has a particularly adroit way of knocking off bits of decayed or loose bark with the beak, to obtain the grubs or larvae hidden beneath. They never suck the sap from trees, as is sometimes supposed, but are wholly beneficial to vegetation.  


 * Length:
 * 4.50-4.75 inches.


 * Male:
 * Above lead~coloured, brownish on wings and tail. Crown and sides of neck black. White stripe over eye, meeting on brow. Under parts rust-red. Bill dark lead—colour, feet lead-brown.


 * Female:
 * Paler, crown and back of one colour.


 * Song:
 * Note—“Day—day-day-dait!”


 * Season:
 * A winter resident in Connecticut, but seen most frequently in early spring and late autumn.


 * Breeds:
 * Chiefly north of the United States.


 * Nest:
 * In holes, like the White-breasted species.


 * Eggs:
 * Very heavily speckled with red-brown.


 * Range:
 * North America at large, migrating south in winter.

This species, like the preceding, and the whole family, in fact, walk head down around the trunks of trees, and often roost in this singular fashion. Their bright colouring makes them particularly noticeable among the leafless trees. They come about the garden every spring, but more particularly in late November, when I have noted them in numbers on Thanksgiving Day in 1888—89—91—92. They search the bark of the orchard trees, at this time, with all the care of the Kinglets; notwithstanding, this species does not seem to be considered by some authorities a common bird in Connecticut.  