Chestnut-vented Nuthatch - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Ayuwat J
Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiangmai, Thailand

Alternative names: Mountain Nuthatch; Naga Nuthatch

Sitta nagaensis

Identification

12cm

• Slate blue upperparts, wings, tail, cap and nape
• Black eyeline
• Buff throat and underparts
• Chestnut vents
• Dark iris
• Grey bill and legs

Sexes similar, female with rufous flanks, concolorous with undertail-coverts. Juveniles are on average slightly buffer.

Similar species

Distinguished from White-tailed Nuthatch by lack of white in central tail feathers and much paler underparts.

Distribution

Found in southern China (southeast Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, southwest Guizhou, an isolated population in northwest Fujian), northeast India, Burma, northwest Thailand, southern Laos (Bolovens Plateau) and southern Vietnam (Da Lat Plateau to Mount Pantar).
Fairly common in its range.

Taxonomy

Formerly considered conspecific with Eurasian Nuthatch.

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies^[1]:

• S. n. montium:

• Southern and eastern China (southeastern Xizang, Sichuan, Yunnan, and extreme southwestern Guizhou; isolated population in higher mountains of northwestern Fujian), northern Laos, northwestern Vietnam (western Tonkin), extreme northeastern India (northeastern Arunachal Pradesh), eastern Myanmar (northern Kachin south to southern Shan State), and northwestern Thailand

• S. n. nagaensis:

• northeastern India (Patkai Range of southeastern Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Cachar Hills of southern Assam, and the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya) and western Myanmar (northern Chin Hills)

• S. n. grisiventris:

• southwestern Myanmar (Mount Victoria, and probably also other mountains of the central and southern Chin Hills), southern Laos (Bolovens Plateau), and southern Vietnam (Da Lat Plateau south to Moun Pantar)

One additional subspecies nebulosa is not generally recognised^[2].

Habitat

Moist montanes, temperate and moist forests.

Behaviour

No information on diet. Feeds probably on small arthropods and some seeds.
Usually seen singly, in pairs or outside the breeding season in small groups or mixed-species flocks.
The nest is placed in a tree hole, the entrance sometimes reduced with plaster. Lays 2 to 5 eggs.
A resident species. Probably some altitudinal movements.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. 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
3. Avibase
4. Wikipedia

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Chestnut-vented Nuthatch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chestnut-vented_Nuthatch

External Links

Search for photos of Chestnut-vented Nuthatch in the gallery

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1