- 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. The outer 4 tail feathers have white centres, and the outer 3 have grey-blue tips. Dary grey brown primaries, secondaries, tertials, and alula, cinnamon lower neck, breast, flanks, belly, vent, and undertail coverts, black upper mandible, pale grey lower, dusky legs and feet are dusky. Females are similar to males, but the crown and nape and eyestripe are dark grey, not black; the 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
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.
The voice is a tinny yank-yank, higher pitched and more nasal than the call of the White-breasted Nuthatch.