- 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
- dark 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.
