| Even though the White-breasted Nuthatch is a resident species throughout its range, its presence generally remains largely undetected until our winter feeders are filled in early November. Then, along with the endless parade of Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Downy Woodpeckers, Cardinals and Blue Jays, an occasional nuthatch manages to slip in and make off with a sunflower seed or bit of suet. There range extends up into Canada around the Great Lakes and along the St Lawrence Seaway. They are notably absent in the Great Plains of the United States. The habitat consists of deciduous and mixed forests, but they appear to prefer mature stands with large decaying trees.
The size of a sparrow, the White-breasted Nuthatch is blue gray above and white below with a black crown with a long bill and a short tail. Nuthatches spend most of their day running up and down tree trunks, searching diligently for insects and larvae hidden in the barky crevices. They are often called "upside-down birds", since they probably spend most of their lives in that position.
They seem to have taken lessons from squirrels, who stretch their hind feet out backwards and cling to the bark with their claws as they descend. But since the nuthatch has only two feet, it must reach forward under its breast with one and reverse the other. Thus, it is able to hitch its way nimbly down the tree head first, in rapid motion.
Nuthatches do not hold seeds and nuts or acorns with their feet and crack them open with their bills like chickadees and titmice. They jam them into a crack and 'hatch' them with their bills.
During courting the male will bring food to the female, bows his head repeatedly, spreads his tail and with feathers raised he sings. Pairs seem to remain together in the same territory throughout the year.
A clutch consists of 5 or 6 white eggs which are speckled with reddish-brown. The nest is a cup of grass and twigs lined with feathers or hair located in a natural cavity, bird box or in a deserted woodpecker hole. The eggs are incubated by both parents for 12 days and the young leave the nest 2 weeks later.
Length 5-6 inches
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