Tough Little Bird

Image of a White Breasted Nuthatch with a sunflower seed in his beak.

I've been trying to get a photo of this little guy for weeks but he's been too fast and jerky. He flies in for a seed and, most often, immediately flies out.

Nuthatches Sitta carolinensis have a short tail and are about 5 3/4 inches long, have black caps, blue/gray upper over an all-white face and breast. The extent of the rust on it's bottom is variable. Typically they have a large head with little visible neck.

This one has a longer, thinner (but very strong) bill indicating it is more similar to the western Nuthatches. Their song and call are both loud and nasal sounding more insistent than musical.

The Nuthatch will climb up, down and around tree trunks and branches searching for insects or hiding seeds/nuts. Able to hang upside down, they are often confused as a Woodpecker. They have short legs, long toes, and very strong claws.

Nuthatches are commonly found in leafy trees - maples, hickory, basswoods, oaks and conifers. They prefer mature woods and woodland edges. They nest year round in holes and crevices of old trees. They will sometimes smash bugs all around the opening to repel squirrels from taking their nest. The tree cavity is a small cup lined with soft material (usually the hole is made by others).

This Nuthatch typically likes insects, nuts and large meaty seeds found at feeders. They get their name from jamming nuts into tree bark and hatchet them into pieces with their sharp beak. Feeders with sunflowers, peanuts and suet usually will entice them if they are in your area. The choice of eating insect pests (tent caterpillars, flies, grasshoppers, aphids, and others) make it a very beneficial bird.

In the winter Nuthatches flock with finches, chickadees and titmice. They are usually in pairs and mate for life. They stay over a good portion of the United States year round. It is difficult to tell the male from the female as they look very much the same - as do juveniles. Both parents feed the fledglings.

The Nuthatch, in the wild, lives from 2-3.5 years although can be as long as ten. Hawks, owls, squirrels, and woodpeckers are the natural enemies. The House Wren will try to destroy their eggs. Nuthatches will make use of man made winter-time roosts constructed for small birds. They will also nest in man made boxes if placed and constructed correctly.

A Nuthatch is a fun addition to your winter bird feeder - always lively - it never seems to get a case of the "winter blues."