Song.—A nasal “yank-yank,” like that of the last, but not so loud, and usually repeated more times.
Nest.—In hollow stumps and limbs, the area about the opening nearly always being coated with fir balsam, for what purpose is not known; the cavity is lined with grasses and feathers; they lay from four to seven white eggs, which are very thickly spotted with reddish brown (.60 × .50).
Range.—N. A., breeding from the northern parts of the northern tier of states, northward; winters south nearly to the Gulf and southern California.
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH
729. Sitta pusilla. 4¼ inches
Crown brownish with a white patch on the nape.
These diminutive Nuthatches are found in the southern states. Their general habits do not appear to differ from those of other members of the family. They nest very early, commencing to excavate their holes in January and having complete sets of eggs as early as the middle of February.
They usually are found in small flocks and at night they will often be seen flying to the top of a pine where they sleep, all huddled together.
Note.—A continued twittering “nya-nya.”