Brown-headed Nuthatch
A species of Nuthatches Scientific name : Sitta pusilla Genus : Nuthatches
Brown-headed Nuthatch, A species of Nuthatches
Botanical name: Sitta pusilla
Genus: Nuthatches
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Photo By Richard Crossley , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Like all nuthatches, the brown-headed Nuthatch is able to climb head-down and zigzag across tree trunks, which distinguishes them from treecreepers and woodpeckers. This small songbird is more often heard than seen. It produces squeaky sounds. The brown-headed Nuthatch has an important ecological role - by foraging for parasitic larvae embedded in trees, it helps to keep them healthy.
Size
10 - 13 cm
Life Expectancy
5 years
Nest Placement
Cavity
Clutch Size
3 - 7 eggs
Nestling Period
18 - 19 days
Feeding Habits
Brown-headed Nuthatch predominantly consume insects like beetles, bark-dwelling cockroaches, and spiders, often found in tree crannies and beneath bark, which they pry off using tools. In winter, they mainly switch to pine seeds.
Habitat
Brown-headed Nuthatch is commonly found in open pine woods of the southeastern United States, favoring mature stands of loblolly, shortleaf, longleaf, and slash pine trees. These birds prefer ecosystems shaped by regular, low-intensity fires that maintain an open understory and provide snags for nesting. While brown-headed Nuthatch also inhabits mixed pine-hardwood forests, they show a marked preference for pine-dominated areas with sufficient deadwood for nesting opportunities.
Nest Behavior
Brown-headed Nuthatch males choose the site and take 1-6 weeks to prepare the nest, timing dependent on excavation need.
Nest Characteristics
Brown-headed Nuthatch selects decaying trees, old nuthatch or woodpecker holes, nest boxes, and even man-made structures as nesting sites, which can be up to 88 feet high. They excavate or reuse cavities, lining them with feathers, cotton, pine seed wings, or bark strips. Entrances measure 1–1.5 inches, with a depth of 5–10 inches.
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
Brown-headed Nuthatch are active foragers, deftly maneuvering along tree branches in search of insects. They exhibit a unique tool-using behavior, employing pieces of bark to dislodge their prey. Their feeding technique includes dismembering larger insects and hammering open pine seeds, which they also cache for future consumption. With powerful feet, they cling to bark without tail support, unlike similar species. Their flight is characterized by short, undulating patterns, indicative of their sedentary nature, as they primarily remain within a fixed territory. Bonding through food offerings, pairs often form long-term monogamous relationships, sometimes with offspring from prior seasons contributing to nest duties—a practice known as cooperative breeding. Brown-headed Nuthatch construct nests in tree cavities where they also seek shelter in colder months, and they forage in mixed-species flocks during winter.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Nuthatches Genus
Nuthatches Species
Brown-headed Nuthatch 
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