White-breasted Nuthatches will come to
feeders with suet and sunflower seeds.
Identification and Pictures
(Sitta Carolinensis) or the Upside-Down Bird
White-breasted Nuthatches are
compact little birds about 6 inches long with stubby tails.
This is the most widespread of the Nuthatches. They are
very agile and you will often see them hopping down a tree
trunk headfirst. It has a black cap, on a white face with a
beady black eye. The back is blue-gray. Chest and under parts
are white with a bit of chestnut. The sexes look alike except
in the female the cap is gray instead of black.
White Breasted Nuthatch above, Red Breasted below.
The name Nuthatch
came from the way it wedges nuts into the crevices of bark
and hacks them open with its strong bill.
They sing a vibrant series of nasal notes
like whi whi whi , who who who, eh eh eh, yank yank yank, or
tootoo. As a pair moves around together they will make soft
ip ip calls.
Note on some browsers you will not be able to see or use the
drop down sound list. If you can't use it try the sound
links below.
They can be found from southern Canada
through the U.S. to southern Mexico. Nuthatches like forests,
woodlands, river groves, shade trees and backyards with trees
and feeders. Especially liked are old trees with large
trunks. They will usually be in pairs, but may be in mixed
flocks.
Breeding and Nesting
Although a pair may stay close together
during winter, and even visit your feeders together they will
roost in separate holes at night.
Breeding season begins mid March to late April depending on
the area. The male will sing from a perch. When the female
approaches he will start bowing and waving as he sings. They
will feed each other as the courtship moves forward.
Breeding is in woodlands, mountain regions, and orchards and
in trees around houses.
The nest will be in a natural tree cavity or even an old
woodpecker hole. They will use your birdhouse. The cavity
floor is pieces of bark and lumps of earth. It will be lined
with shreds of bark, grass, fur, hair and feathers.
The female will incubate 5
to 9 smooth slightly glossy eggs. The eggs are white, cream
or pinkish and spotted with light red, reddish-brown or
purplish spots. The male will feed her while she incubates
the eggs for around 2 weeks. The young are tended by both
adults and fledge in about 2 week and will be fed after
leaving the nest for another 2 weeks.
Food and Feeding
Natural foods are insects such as beetles and
caterpillars. Likes acorns, nuts and seeds from pinecones.
You can attract them to your yard with suet and feeders with
sunflower seeds and nuts. You are more likely to see them if
you have shade trees. They can be quite aggressive at
feeders. With its wings spread it will swing from side
to side to keep other birds away.
Nuthatches can be fairly tame and may even
take food from your hand. There are even reports that
some Nuthatches will follow a person they are used to around
until they get food from them.
White-breasted Nuthatches are
compact little birds about 6 inches long with stubby tails.
This is the most widespread of the Nuthatches. They are
very agile and you will often see them hopping down a tree
trunk headfirst. It has a black cap, on a white face with a
beady black eye. The back is blue-gray. Chest and under parts
are white with a bit of chestnut. The sexes look alike except
in the female the cap is gray instead of black.
The name Nuthatch
came from the way it wedges nuts into the crevices of bark
and hacks them open with its strong bill.
The female will incubate 5
to 9 smooth slightly glossy eggs. The eggs are white, cream
or pinkish and spotted with light red, reddish-brown or
purplish spots. The male will feed her while she incubates
the eggs for around 2 weeks. The young are tended by both
adults and fledge in about 2 week and will be fed after
leaving the nest for another 2 weeks.
