The Nuthatch is a Very Vocal Backyard Bird
The nuthatch can be found all around the world from North America to Europe to Asia.
There are many different varieties of this bird in and around the world and most tend to stay in their breeding areas without migrating. The exception would be the red breasted. They do leave the northern most parts of their breeding areas in Canada and migrate to more southern parts of North America.
Fun Fact: The white breasted is the largest of all these birds and yet they are still a small bird.
Here is a red breasted nuthatch. These are one of the smaller birds you will find in your backyard.
They are a small compact bird. They have large heads, small tails and compressed wings. They also have very powerful bills and feet.
Here is a white breasted nuthatch. Both the red and white ones are found through out most of the United States.
These are active creatures and they have a great deal of energy. You will see them constantly moving around three trunks and branches looking for food. Actually they can be a very aggressive bird as well and despite their small size, you might find that they can sometimes dominate larger birds at your feeders. They are fun to have around though because they are very vocal birds, having many whistles and calls. These birds are a woodland bird that prefers evergreen forests. They also prefer trees like maple, hickory, birch and oak to name a few. They do like mature forests and they prefer to nest near any open areas or forest edges.
Fun Facts: Some species like to wedge a seed or nut in a crack of a tree and hack it open with their strong bill. Hence the name nuthatch.
These delightful creatures have a habit of traveling down a tree while looking for food. The have no regard for up, down or sideways.
Food:
Insects, nuts and meaty seeds are the food of the day for these birds. In the summer time they tend to eat insects like beetles, caterpillars or smaller insects that they may find under the bark of a tree and in the winter when insects are scarce they eat seeds. They do enjoy larger seeds like black oil sunflower seeds. Peanut butter or a peanut suet would work very well to attract these birds as well.
Many different types of feeders would work for this bird. The hopper, platform and tube type would work. Suet feeders work as well.
These birds tend to store food for future use. They especially like to store seeds and they will store them anywhere. They will store them in crevices, in the ground under stones or behind the bark of a tree.
Nests:
Not only might they store food in a crevice of a tree, but they might put a nest there as well. Most nuthatches will use any natural cavity or one made say by a woodpecker to build a nest in. The red-breasted nut hatch has been known to actually use their strong bills to make their own holes in a tree.
You can attract these birds using a bird house, but they can be a bit picky.
You are best to buy a bird house made of cedar or white pine and be sure that it is not treated wood. It could harm or kill these birds of they decide to peck on it.
Look for a house that has these approximate dimensions and you should be safe. 10 - 12 inches high, 6 to 7 inches deep and about 6 inches wide. Also the hole should be about 1 3/8 inches large and about 6 to 7 inches from the bottom of the feeder. Make sure it has a perch as well.
Fun fact: The red-breasted actually puts resin globules on the inside and outside of the entrance hole to keep predators out of the nest.
The nuthatch is a monogamous bird that mates for life. The female lays eggs that are white with either red or yellow markings.
They can be found through out the United States and really, they should be easy to attract to your backyard. Debbie and I even get to enjoy them up here in Montana.
Return from the nuthatch to backyard birds
Return from the nuthatch to grandpas backyard fun
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