White-breasted Nuthatch
—Ross Feldner

Do you have a bird feeder in your backyard? Then it’s likely you’ll see this perky little visitor, a distinctive gray, black and white bird that is common in United States where its nasally call can be heard all year long.
    Because the White-breasted Nuthatch wedges its excess food into tree bark crevices, it's often spotted in densely wooded areas or open spaces with large trees.
    While often seen at bird feeders, during the summer the White-breasted Nuthatch feeds on insects like beetles, ants, and caterpillars. During the winter, it joins flocks of titmice and chickadees to forage along tree trunks.
    By joining these other flocks they are able to locate food more easily and benefit from increased protection from predators. This behavior is known as a foraging guild.
    If you spot a White-breasted Nuthatch making trip after trip to a particular feeder, it’s a good bet it’s transporting the seeds and storing them in the bark of a nearby tree.

White-breasted Nuthatch Fun Facts

The name nuthatch probably results
from the corruption of the word
“nuthack,” which refers to its habit
of hacking away at a seed with its
beak until the seed opens.

The White-breasted Nuthatch is known as the “upside down” bird, often observed creeping headfirst down tree trunks searching cracks and crevices for insects.

A nuthatch’s foot has one big toe
that faces backward, while its other three toes face forward. It’s able
to walk head first down tree trunks
by moving only one foot at a time while the big toe on the other
foot holds firmly to the bark.

Nuthatches are monogamous and
defend a territory throughout the year. The female White-breasted Nuthatch rarely strays far from her mate and
stays in constant vocal contact
while in close proximity.

 

Click her to watch a White-breasted Nuthatch foraging on a tree trunk

 

Rachel Carson Council
8600 Irvington Avenue  | Bethesda, Maryland 20817-3604
(301) 214-2400 | office@rachelcarsoncouncil.org

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