Brown-headed Nuthatch of the Southeastern U. S.

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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 

BHNU seed

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.

BHNU river brown-headed nuthatch immature

Winter

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.


BHNU on nest box


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.


BHNU immature

Cute Nuthatches at Zazzle 

Visit our Naturally Native Gallery to see more nature related designs.

Brown-headed Videos 

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Nuthatches on eBay 

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eBay

Feeders and Books about Boxes on Amazon 

The Backyard Birdhouse Book: Building Nestboxes and Creating Natural Habitats

Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009) Buy Now

The Nestbox Book

Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009) Buy Now

Droll Yankees YCPD90 Dipper Squirrell Proof Bird Feeder

Amazon Price: $79.95 (as of 07/14/2009) Buy Now

Chickadees, Tits, Nuthatches, and Treecreepers

Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009) Buy Now

Brown-headed Nuthatch Photos 

the littlest angel by bvshort

This is the smallest bird in my yard . . . well, except when the hummers are her...

Brown Headed Nuthatch by Birdman Jon

Brown Headed Nuthatch's by Birdman Jon

brown-headed nuthatch by bvshort

This little guy is smaller than a chickadee and just precious! It lives in sout...

Brown Headed Nuthatch by Birdman Jon

Brown Headed Nuthatch by Birdman Jon

I guess I was wrong about there babys flying away! There still in the nest!

Brown headed Nuthatch by Birdman Jon

Good hot day for photography!

Lunch by arwriterphotog

Brown-headed Nuthatch. I didn't realize they had such long tongues.

Brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) by mimbrava

Explore page.

Brown Headed Nuthatch by Birdman Jon

He is guarding the nest they built.

Brown-headed Nuthatch by Photophool

I know you guys must be getting tired of this bird thing. I was going to swear o...

Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Habitat Blog 

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Other Related Lenses 

Tell Us About Your Nuthatches 

spirituality wrote...

Great pictures, great information. thanks.

ReplyPosted October 10, 2008

spirituality wrote...

Great pictures, great information. thanks.

ReplyPosted October 10, 2008

tdove wrote...

Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!

ReplyPosted September 24, 2008

ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...

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

ReplyPosted August 24, 2008

rio1 wrote...

Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this lens. I have marveled at the brown headed nuthatch in my yard.

ReplyPosted August 18, 2008

Brown-headed Nuthatches in the News 

BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH 0220 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH 0220. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH 0220 by Mudhen2. Hal Scott Preserve 7/11/09. To take full advantage of Flickr, you should use a JavaScript-enabled browser and install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player. ...
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch. Charles Tysinger photographed this Brown-headed Nuthatch on 14 May 2009 at Cedarock Park in Alamance County, North Carolina. Brown-headed Nuthatch. More Brown-headed Nuthatch photos · CBC Photo Gallery ...
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch. Kent Fiala photographed this Brown-headed Nuthatch on 1 May 2009 at Table Rock State Park, South Carolina. Check out those feet! Brown-headed Nuthatch. More Brown-headed Nuthatch photos · CBC Photo Gallery ...
Looking for Mr. Ruby-throat, south of I-10 - Sports - SunHerald.com
Anderson's yard also gave Ray his first male Ruby-throat and his life Brown-headed nuthatch. We ended the hot day at White Kitchen, watching White Ibis and Little Blue Herons. It was a hot, hard day that reminded me the best part of ...