Southeastern U.S. Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatches are indigenous to the Pine forests of the Southeastern United States where they are permanent residents. They are one of nature's acrobats and we never tire of their antics. Their primary food is Pine nuts, so their food supply has been depleted as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Luckily they will also eat black oil sunflower seeds. If you live in the Southeast and want to attract them to your yard, put up a sunflower seed feeder and a bluebird size nest box.
Brown-headed Nuthatch Description
from All About Birds
Small nuthatch; climbs headfirst down tree trunks.
Crown brown.
Underparts whitish.
Back, nape, wings, and rump blue gray.
Size: 10-11 cm (4-4 in)
Wingspan: 16-18 cm (6-7 in)
Weight: 10 g (0.35 ounces)
Sex Differences
Sexes alike.
Sound
Calls are high pitched and squeaky, like the squeaks of a rubber duck toy.
Hear the songs of the Brown-headed Nuthatch.
Conservation Status
Decreasing throughout range because of habitat degradation. The population on Grand Bahama Island, which is possibly a distinct subspecies, is nearly gone, probably the result of logging. Listed on the Audubon Watchlist.
Food and Habits
In the pine forests of the Southeast, little groups of Brown-headed Nuthatches are frequent visitors at sunflower seed feeders. They also enjoy suet. After Hurricane Katrina we saw many more Brown-headed Nuthatches at our feeders because most of their natural food, pine nuts, had been destroyed along with the thousands of mature Pine trees.
According to Martin, Zim and Nelson in American Wildlife & Plants A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits, pine seeds make up more than half of their diet. Their animal food is gathered from the trunks and twigs of trees and consists of Hymenoptera, moth eggs, caterpillars and cocoons and scale insects. Plant food consists primarily of Pine seeds.
During the winter the family groups may join and forage with other families or with mixed-species flocks containing woodpeckers, kinglets, titmice and warblers.
Brown-headed Nuthatch Facts on Wiki
The Brown-headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla, is a small (approximately in length) songbird found in pine forests throughout the Southeastern United States. An endangered population occurs in the pineyards of Grand Bahama; some authorities consider it to represent a separate species, S. insularis. The bird, like other nuthatches, possesses a sharp black nail-like beak, which it uses to pound open seeds. It is a frequent visitor to feeding stations and is highly fond of sunflower seeds and suet cakes.
Bold and inquisitive, this bird is readily approachable by humans. The bird is frequently observed using a small chip of bark held in its beak as a tool to dig for insects.
This species of nuthatch sports a brown cap with narrow black eyeline and buff white cheeks, chin, and belly. Its wings are bluish-gray in color. A small white spot is found at the nape of the neck. The bird's call is a sharp whee-hyah sounding very similar to a "rubber duck" toy and particularly is loud for a bird its size. They also make softer "pit pit pit" calls while in flight as well as other squeaking noises.
Nesting Habits
Brown-headed Nuthatches nest in natural cavities and man-made boxes. They seem to favor the natural cavities in our habitat. This year was the first time that they used one of our bluebird sized nestboxes.
They are monogamous and will sometimes mate for life. Very often a Nuthatch pair will have a young family member (usually a yearling male) who acts as a helper or "nanny". We observed that there was always one adult bird either on the nest or very close by. All of the adult birds care for the young. The pair that used our nest box fledged six little nuthatches.
Nest building begins in March, here in South Louisiana. Excavation of a natural cavity is done by both male and female and may take 6 weeks to complete. Some Brown-headed Nuthatches will weatherproof their nest cavities by stuffing plant down or cotton in the crevices.
Other Facts about Reproduction from All About Birds
Nest Type
Nests in holes in trees, usually dead trees. Will use nest box. Nest made primarily of pine seed wings, with bark shreds, Spanish moss, grass rootlets, fur, feathers, and other soft material.
Egg Description and Laying
White or buffy, with reddish brown spots evenly distributed over egg or concentrated as blotches at large end are laid one a day.
Clutch Size and Incubation
Usually 3-7 eggs. Range: 3-9. The female incubates the clutch for 14 days. During this time she may be fed, on and off the nest, by the male and the helper.
Condition at Hatching and Fledging
Young are helpless and with some down. They leave the nest after about 18 to 19 days. The fledglings are dependent on their parents for another 24 to 26 days.
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Tell Us About Your Nuthatches
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- spirituality spirituality Oct 10, 2008 @ 4:42 am
- Great pictures, great information. thanks.
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- spirituality spirituality Oct 10, 2008 @ 4:42 am
- Great pictures, great information. thanks.
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- tdove tdove Sep 24, 2008 @ 10:33 pm
- Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!
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- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Aug 24, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
- I have seen and cataloged many birds but the Nuthatch has alluded me. I have enjoyed this lens and maybe next time a Nuthatch is lurking around my yard, I'll spot him.
5* and favored
Lizzy
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- rio1 rio1 Aug 18, 2008 @ 7:47 am
- Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this lens. I have marveled at the brown headed nuthatch in my yard.
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- American Crow; American Goldfinch *; American Robin *; Blue Gray Gnatcatcher; Blue Jay *; Brown Headed Cowbird *; Brown Headed Nuthatch *; Brown Thrasher *; Carolina Chickadee *; Carolina Wren *; Chimney Swift; Chipping Sparrow ...
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- Brown-Headed Nuthatch
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Nuthatch Links
All About Birds: Brown-headed Nuthatch
Comprehensive information on North American birds more...0 points
Brown-headed Nuthatch
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Brown-headed Nuthatch
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identif more...0 points
Brown-headed Nuthatch - Whatbird.com
Brown-headed Nuthatch: Medium nuthatch, gray upper more...0 points
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Species Account for the Brown-headed Nuthatch, Sit more...0 points
eNature.com Nature Guides
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Other Nuthatch Links
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