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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
*Black crown and nape | *Black crown and nape | ||
− | * | + | *White lores, the supercilium, and the sides of the mantle |
− | * | + | *Black eyestripe broadens backward to the sides of the mantle |
− | * | + | *White chin, cheeks, ear coverts, and sides of the upper neck |
− | * | + | *Grey blue upperparts, lesser and median coverts, and central tail feathers |
− | * | + | *Outer 4 tail feathers have white centres; outer 3 have grey-blue tips |
− | * | + | *Dark grey brown flight feathers |
− | * | + | *Cinnamon lower neck, breast, flanks, belly, vent, and undertail coverts |
− | Females | + | *Black upper mandible, pale grey lower |
+ | *dusky legs and feet | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====Females==== | ||
+ | *Similar to males, but the crown and nape are dark grey, not black | ||
+ | *Eyestripe is variable but usually paler than in males | ||
+ | *Underparts are paler, not as richly coloured as males | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== |
Revision as of 19:47, 12 January 2008
- Sitta canadensis
Identification
- Black crown and nape
- White lores, the supercilium, and the sides of the mantle
- Black eyestripe broadens backward to the sides of the mantle
- White chin, cheeks, ear coverts, and sides of the upper neck
- Grey blue upperparts, lesser and median coverts, and central tail feathers
- Outer 4 tail feathers have white centres; outer 3 have grey-blue tips
- Dark grey brown flight feathers
- Cinnamon lower neck, breast, flanks, belly, vent, and undertail coverts
- Black upper mandible, pale grey lower
- dusky legs and feet
Females
- Similar to males, but the crown and nape are dark grey, not black
- Eyestripe is variable but usually paler than in males
- Underparts are paler, not as richly coloured as males
Distribution
Breeds across Canada and United States.
Taxonomy
A member of the Sittidae family. Linnaeus, 1766.
Habitat
Coniferous forests; more widespread during migration and winter.
Behaviour
Diet
Nuthatches hoard excess food and will transport seed from a tree heavily laden with mature cones to their distant larders. They also feed on bark insects.
Voice
A tinny yank-yank, higher pitched and more nasal than the call of the White-breasted Nuthatch. Some describe it as sounding similar to a toy tin horn.