January 13, 2025
A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) in its classic nuthatch pose, upside down.
I love having these birds around with their funny, laughing sound, much like a horn of a tiny, tin toy model T.
_______________________
If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
November 20, 2025
A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) in a pose I often see. Quickly going up and down a tree trunk. Surprisingly, going down like this, head first. Searching, hunting for insects.
The White-breasted Nuthatch has strong feet that enable it to grip tree bark without using its tail for support, a technique that some other birds use. This allows it to navigate on the tree trunk and branches as it searches for insects in crevices. They also use this talent to wedge seeds into cracks in the bark, hiding them from other birds.
This Nuthatch is a bird that is easy to find at my feeders. Peanuts, sunflower seeds, suet all attract them, and definitely the birdbath too.
_______________________
If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
January 25, 2025
Yesterday I posted about the White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) and its absence from my garden during these past many snowy and very cold days. I’ve been reading about them today, and it seems there is an interesting and, to me, a surprising explanation.
The White-breasted Nuthatch, which had been thought to be a non-migratory bird has been observed migrating from time to time in just the past couple years. An irruptive species will move out of their normal home territory when their usual foods don’t provide for their needs. Migrating just every now and then.
Now the White-breasted Nuthatch might be following in its relatives’ footsteps. The Red-breasted Nuthatch is considered to be an irruptive species