Red-breasted Nuthatch
A species of Nuthatches Scientific name : Sitta canadensis Genus : Nuthatches
Red-breasted Nuthatch, A species of Nuthatches
Botanical name: Sitta canadensis
Genus: Nuthatches
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Photo By Mick Thompson , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Short and round, the tiny red-breasted Nuthatch attracts notice with its high energy level and the black and white striping on its head. Look for it this little active bird at your bird feeder, or listen for a “yank-yank” call, similar to the sound of a small tin horn honking. This bird is known to collect resin from trees and plaster it in front of its nest as a way to ward off predators.
Size
11 cm
Life Expectancy
6-7.5 years
Nest Placement
Cavity
Clutch Size
2 - 8 eggs
Incubation Period
1 brood
Number of Broods
12 - 13 days
Nestling Period
18 - 21 days
Feeding Habits
Red-breasted Nuthatch primarily consume insects, arthropods, and conifer seeds, varying their diet seasonally. They feed nestlings on insects and exploit spruce budworm outbreaks. Red-breasted Nuthatch forage from feeders with a preference for the heaviest items, which they wedge into bark to eat, differing from some species that hold food with their feet.
Habitat
Red-breasted Nuthatch typically inhabits boreal and subalpine coniferous forests rich in spruce, fir, pine, hemlock, larch, and western red cedar. At elevations up to tree line, they favor cool climates but are also found in deciduous woods, especially in winter irruptions. Then, red-breasted Nuthatch may frequent a wider range of areas like orchards, scrubland, urban parks, and tree plantations.
Nest Behavior
Red-breasted Nuthatch selects nesting sites mostly in dead trees, with the female playing a major role, though solo males may start multiple nests to attract a mate. Nest excavation can take up to 18 days, after which interior construction begins, and egg-laying follows. Both parents engage in applying protective resin and share in caring for the young.
Nest Characteristics
Red-breasted Nuthatch's nest is typically found in dead wood or dead parts of live trees, often in aspens for softer wood. The cavity, constructed by both sexes, ranges from 2.5 to 8 inches deep, lined with grass, bark, pine needles, and soft materials like fur or feathers. Unique to red-breasted Nuthatch is the application of resin around the nest entrance, showcasing tool use.
Dite type
Insectivorous
People often ask
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Hulled Sunflower Seeds
Suet
Peanuts
Peanut Hearts
Mealworms
Bird Feeder Type
Large Tube Feeder
Small Tube Feeder
Suet Cage
Large Hopper
Small Hopper
Platform
Behavior
Red-breasted Nuthatch exhibit a dynamic and assertive demeanor, deftly navigating tree trunks and branches with their unique ability to move in any orientation, including headfirst downwards, assisted by powerful hind claws. These birds are known to bravely assert themselves at feeders, even among larger avian species. Remarkably, red-breasted Nuthatch are one of the few species capable of creating nest cavities in solid wood. During mating rituals, males engage in distinctive displays of head pointing, wing fluttering, and swaying to court females, who participate in nest construction. Red-breasted Nuthatch often integrate into mixed-species foraging flocks and are strategic in storing food for winter survival, concealing reserves in bark crevices and camouflaging them. In flight, they exhibit an undulating pattern over typically short distances.
Species Status
Because of its large global range and its increasing population, the red-breasted nuthatch is rated as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In the Americas, it is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. 
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Nuthatches Genus
Nuthatches Species
Red-breasted Nuthatch 
Download Picture Bird
Identify any bird by photo or sound in seconds
Identify any bird by photo or sound in seconds
