Birds
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis · also called white-breasted nuthatches
Moving headfirst down a tree trunk in a stretch of deciduous forest, a white-breasted nuthatch pauses to pry an insect from a bark crevice, working the tree from a downward angle that upward-climbing woodpeckers and creepers rarely bother with.
Overview
The white-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis, is a small, agile songbird native to deciduous and mixed forest across a broad range spanning most of the United States and southern Canada. Its distinctive headfirst downward foraging technique, insect-smeared nest defence, and year-round residency across most of its range make it one of the more behaviourally distinctive small woodland birds in North America.
A different angle on the same tree trunk
By foraging headfirst down a trunk rather than climbing up, the white-breasted nuthatch checks the same bark crevices other birds inspect from below, often turning up insects its upward-moving neighbours miss entirely.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and common across suitable deciduous and mixed forest throughout most of the United States and southern Canada.
White-Breasted Nuthatch: common questions
Why does the white-breasted nuthatch climb down trees headfirst?
This species characteristically forages headfirst down tree trunks, a habit shared by few other North American birds, and this unusual orientation may let it spot insects hidden in bark crevices from a different angle than the upward-climbing woodpeckers and creepers it often shares trees with.
Why does the white-breasted nuthatch smear insects around its nest?
This species defends its nest cavity by smearing crushed insects around the entrance, a behaviour thought to help deter squirrels and other potential predators or competitors from approaching, though the exact effectiveness and mechanism of this defence is not entirely settled.
Does the white-breasted nuthatch migrate?
No, this species remains a year-round resident across most of its range, generally not undertaking the significant seasonal migration that many smaller songbirds rely on, instead relying on cached food stores to help it get through the winter months in the same territory.
What does the white-breasted nuthatch sound like?
This species produces a distinctive nasal, repeated call often described as "yank-yank," a sound frequently heard echoing through the forest before the bird itself is actually spotted moving along a tree trunk.