White-breasted Nuthatch

A fairly common resident of wooded areas throughout the county. Prefers oaks and mixed broadleaf forest. Mostly absent at the coast and in the lightly wooded or treeless southern parts of the county. Present year-round, but becomes more common in the winter months in my experience, yet, interestingly, the Breeding Bird Atlas says quite the opposite. Not uncommon in suburban areas with adequate stands of trees. Usually seen crawling along branches, looking for insects, or crawling upside down along branches or upside down on tree trunks doing the same. Although mostly an insectivore, fond of seeds and often seen at feeders taking seed, especially in the winter. Cavity nester, mostly using abandoned woodpecker excavations. Breeds widely in the county, wherever there is suitable habitat and nesting spots are available. Distinctive vocalization (a nasal eenk!) is often the first clue to the presence of a White-breasted Nuthatch.

Plump, short-tailed, and as likely as not to be upside down, a nuthatch is fairly distinctive. A clean white face makes the White-breasted Nuthatch’s dark eye stand out. Bluish-grey above but the crown and nape are a darker hue. White underparts but with a rusty patch at the vent--an often-overlooked field mark. Long, pointed bill is slightly upturned, which can give the bird a mildly jovial look. Distinguished from its close relative Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) by its larger size, different coloration, and different vocalizations (compare below). Red-breasted Nuthatch, as the name suggests, is extensively rufous on the breast and belly. Red-breasted Nuthatch is more likely to be found on conifers than White-breasted Nuthatch. Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea), our other nuthatch species, is a smaller bird than either of the other two and less commonly encountered in Sonoma County. Perhaps the most obvious feature differentiating the three is the patterning on the head and face. White-breasted Nuthatch has a clean, white face with a dark cap. Pygmy Nuthatch has a grey-brown crown that extends all the way down to a dark eyestripe; the face is thus dark at and above the eye, white below. Red-breasted Nuthatch combines a strong white “eyebrow” with a dark eyeline so that the face appears striped.

Trivia: Nuthatches get their name from their habit of wedging food items (such as nuts) into crevices and then chopping at them with their bills.