Sitta canadensis.
Descriptions of First Plumage of Cer-
tain North Am. Bbs. Wm.Brewster.
14. Sitta canadensis.
First plumage: female. Above ashy with just a shade of blue;
pileum dark ashy; chin and throat dirty white; rest of under parts
like spring adults, but with a fainter and more general suffusion of
rusty. From specimen in my collection taken at Upton, Me., July 31,
1874. In “History of Birds of North America” (Vol. I, p. 118) Mr.
Ridgway, in giving the specific characters of this species, says: “The
male has the chin white; rest of under parts, brownish-rusty.” Of
the female, “beneath paler, more of a muddy white.” Now, if I under-
stand rightly by this that the breeding plumage of the adult is indicated,
I am confident that the description, so far as it relates to the male, is
incorrect. From the examination of a large series of specimens, collected
in every stage of plumage and at nearly all seasons, I am led to believe
that Mr. Ridgway’s description is applicable only to the male in full
autumnal dress, — a mistake most easily committed when it is considered
that this plumage is worn through the winter months, or nearly up to
the commencement of the breeding season, as is shown by specimens shot
on the migration through Massachusetts in April. It will be seen by a
comparison of the following descriptions that the brightest plumage is
reached in autumnal specimens, a case parallel with that of Parus atrica-
pillus. Hence I have judged it best to redescribe the spring or breeding
plumage, using Mr. Ridgway’s words so far as they are definitely appli-
cable. The autumnal plumage is presented, I believe, for the first time.
Breeding plumage: Adult male. “Above ashy-blue: top of head
black: a white line above and a black one through the eye.” Entire un-
der parts dirty white, tinged very slightly with pale rusty on breast, sides,
abdomen, and crissum. From specimen in my collection shot at Upton,
Me., May 31, 1871.
Adult female. With black of head scarcely duller than in the male:
beneath similar, perhaps a trifle less rusty. From specimen in my col-
lection obtained on Muskeget Island, Mass., June 30, 1870. It is very
possible that this bird represents a development of plumage only excep-
tionally attained by the female; I have seen no other specimen of that
sex with the color of the crown so nearly approaching that of the male.
Autumnal plumage of young: male. Upper parts as in breeding adults,
the ash-blue a little clearer and brighter. Chin white; rest of under
parts brownish-rusty, paler on throat and intensifying into light chestnut
on sides. A narrow line down centre of abdomen pure white (this last
feature, though characteristic of most specimens, is wanting in a few).
From a specimen in my collection shot at Upton, Me., September 7, 1874.
Female. Pileum dark ashy mixed with black. Otherwise similar to
male and scarcely lighter beneath. From specimen in my collection shot
at Upton, Me., September 12, 1874.
The adult in autumn is paler beneath than the young.
Bull. N.O.C. 3. Jan., 1878. p. 20-21.