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Re: Pygmy nuthatch?
- To: CarolinaBirds <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
- Subject: Re: Pygmy nuthatch?
- From: K Dean EDWARDS <kde@angst.engr.utk.edu>
- Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 13:31:22 -0400 (EDT)
- In-reply-to: <001901c22766$b0a5d280$b86dc0d1@computer>
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Check out A.C. Bent's life history for Brown-headed Nuthatch
(available online at
http://www.birdzilla.com/omnibus.asp?strType=Bent&strTitle=Brown%2Dheaded+Nuthatch&strURL=brown_headed_nuthatch.htm
That address is a bit long so try www.birdzilla.com and follow the
links if it doesn't come out right).
Anyway, Bent describes the Gray-headed Nuthatch as a newly discovered
(at the time, early 1900s) subspecies of the Brown-headed Nuthatch from
Florida. I believe current thinking is that the gray-headed
Brown-headed Nuthatches are just a result of individual variation
(perhaps a color morph) and not a valid subspecies. They have been
recorded from areas away from Florida and I remember similar discussion
a couple of years ago on one of the SE US listservs (Carolinas, TN
or Alabama probably). I believe the Helm guide to Chickadees,
Titmice, Nuthatches and Treecreepers discusses this as well but
it's at the house and I'm at work.
Dean Edwards
Knoxville, TN
kde@utk.edu