- Sitta formosa
Identification
16.5cm. A large nuthatch with a highly distinctive plumage.
- Black back streaked white
- Bright blue upper back, rump and shoulders
- Dull orange underparts
- Pale face
Sexes and young birds are similar
Distribution
North east India, Bhutan, Burma, Northern Vietnam and Southern China (Yunnan).
Scare to rare and very locally distributed in its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
A nuthatch with obscure relationships. Has been placed in its own genus Callisitta.
Habitat
Dense forests.
In the eastern Himalayas recorded from 300 to 2135m, in Vietnam and Laos from 950 to 2000m.
Behaviour
Diet
Diet poorly known. Feeds on insects.
Often in mixed-species foraging flocks, otherwise singly, in pairs or small groups.
Investigates mosses, lichens and orchids in middle and upper canopy in search for food.
Breeding
Poorly known. Breeding season in northeast India from April to May/June. The nest is placed in a tree hole 2 to 8m above the ground. If the entrance hole is too large it's reduced with clay. Lays 4 to 6 egg.
Movements
A resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
- Avibase
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2008. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553453
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Beautiful Nuthatch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Beautiful_Nuthatch
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
