Alternative name: Red-bellied Nuthatch
- 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.
Fairly common to abundant.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
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.
Vocalisation
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.
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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Red-breasted Nuthatch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-breasted_Nuthatch
