Bird Basics
Red-Breasted
Nuthatch
(
Sitta canadensis )
Habits
Like
other nuthatches, the Red-Breasted moves
quickly down trees searching for tasty grubs
and insects. In fact, the Red-Breasted
Nuthatch is much more agile than its cousins
and often seems to "flit" through
the trees. The male and female are
vocal, but you need to listen closely to
hear their constant chatter.
Nesting
Nuthatches
begin searching for nesting sites in early
April. They are cavity birds, excavating
a hole in a dead tree or limb, or claiming
an abandoned woodpecker's nest. They
line the nest with various grasses and plant
fibers. The male and female takes
turns during incubation of as many as six
eggs. After a 12-day incubation, the
parents fly busily back and forth with fresh
insects and seeds for their young.
The fledglings leave the nest 18-21 days
later.
Range
Nuthatches
are found from Northwestern Canada to California,
in the Great Lakes states and in the northeast
US.
Diet
Nuthatches
consume both seeds, nuts and insects.
They prefer pine seeds and will pry open
pinecones to extract the tiny seeds.
They will come to a feeder for Black Oils,
chopped peanuts and suet. During the
warm months, they feast on insects and insect
eggs, including beetles, wasps, and caterpillars.
listen to the red-breasted nuthatch!
mp3
file generously donated by John Feith
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