T H E R E D - B E L L I E D N U T H A T C H .
SlTTA CANADENSIS, LlNN.
P L A T E C V . MALE AND FEMALE.
WHILE the Brown-headed Nuthatch perambulates the southern districts,
the Red-bellied species spends its time in the eastern and northern
States, the two dividing the country, as it were, nearly equally between
them. The southern limits of this little bird seldom extend farther than
Maryland. It is more plentiful in Pennsylvania, particularly in the
mountainous parts of that State, and becomes still more abundant as you
proceed towards Maine and Nova Scotia, where the greater number spend
even the coldest winters. Yet I saw none in Newfoundland, and only one
in Labrador, which had probably been blown thither by a gale.
I found it building its nest near Eastport in Maine, on the 19th of
May, before the Blue Bird had made its appearance there, and while much
ice still remained on the northern exposures. The nest is dug in a low
dead stump, seldom more than four feet from the ground, both the male and
the female working by turns, until they have got to the depth of about
fourteen inches. The eggs, four in number, are small, and of a white
colour, tinged with a deep blush, and sprinkled with reddish dots. They
raise, I believe, only one brood in the season.
The activity and industry of this little creature are admirable. With
the quickness of thought it moves up and down the branches of trees, assuming
various positions, examining every hole or cranny in the bark,
frequently rapping against it with its bill, and detaching now and then
small fragments, in order to get at the insects or larva? concealed beneath.
I t searches for its food among the leaves of the tallest pines, along the
fences, and on the fallen logs, ever busy, petulant, and noisy, probably
never resting except during the night, when, like other species of the
tribe, it attaches itself by the feet to the bark, and sleeps head downwards.
Like other birds of this genus also, it is careless of man, although it
never suffers him to form too close an acquaintance. During the breeding
season, they move in pairs, and manifest a strong mutual attachment.
Their almost incessant hirik, lúnlc, Mrik-hiiik, is heard at every hop they
take, but less loudly sounded than the notes of the Brown-headed species,
R E D - B E L L I E D N U T H A T C H . 25
the male being more prodigal of noise than the female, which, however,
now and then answers to his call.
It is pleasant to see such a pair leading their offspring through the
tops of the tall trees of our great pine forests of the north, accompanied
by a train of small Woodpeckers and Creepers, all bent on the same object,
that of procuring food. Gaily they move from tree to tree, each emitting
its peculiar note, and all evincing the greatest sociality. If danger is apparent,
dead silence takes place, but as soon as their fear is removed, they
become as clamorous and lively as before.
The flight of the Red-bellied Nuthatch is seldom protracted farther
than from tree to tree; and in this manner a certain number go south at
the approach of winter, some at this season venturing as far as South
Carolina, although they are never seen in the maritime districts of that
State. They are plentiful during summer in the Pocano mountains of
Pennsylvania, and many breed there. Those which remain in our northern
States during winter, now and then shew themselves in the orchards and
farm-yards, alighting about the eaves of the out-houses, to seek for food.
While at sea, on one of my migrations from Europe to America, and
at a distance of 300 miles from land, I saw one of these birds come on
board one evening, during a severe gale. It alighted on the rigging, and
proceeded at once to search for food in its usual manner. It was caught
and brought to me; but although I gave it flies and some bits of cheese,
it refused to touch them, generally sitting in the bottom of the cage with
its head under its wing, and it died in the course of the night. On opening
it, I could not perceive a particle of food in its stomach, so that its
sudden death was probably occasioned by inanition and fatigue.
SITTA CANADENSIS Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 177-—Lath. Ind. Ornith. p. 2G2. Ch.
Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of the United States, p. 96.
RED-BELLIED BLACK-CAP NUTHATCH, SITTA CANADENSIS, Wilson, Amer. Ornith.
vol. i. p. 40. PI. 2. fig. 4—Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 583.
Adult Male. Plate CV. Fig. 1.
Bill straight, of moderate length, very hard, conico-subulate, a little
compressed, more or less wedge-shaped at the t i p ; upper mandible with
the dorsal outline very slightly arched, the edges sharp towards the point;
lower mandible smaller, of equal length, straight. Nostrils basal, round,
half-closed by a membrane, partially covered by the frontal feathers.