Nuthatches and Wall Creepers: Sittidae

Nuthatches and wall creepers consist of three groups: typical nuthatches, sittellas, and wall creepers. They are small and stocky, large-headed, short-tailed perching birds. Nuthatches are 3.5 to 7.5 inches (8.5 to 19.0 centimeters) long. They have a compact body, large head, short neck, and a thin, chisel-shaped, slightly upturned bill. Their long, pointed wings have ten primary feathers each, they have a short, squared tail, short legs and strong, long toes that have sharp claws. Nuthatches have blue-gray upperparts (blue in some tropical species) and white, pale gray, or reddish brown underparts. The crown on the top of the head is dark and there is a white stripe over the eye.

Sittellas are 4.3 to 4.8 inches (11 to 12 centimeters) long. They have a compact body, large head, thin, chisel-shaped bill and a short tail. They also have a brown-streaked or black body with a red face. Wall creepers are about 6.5 inches (16 centimeters) long. They have a compact body and strong, slightly down-turned bill, a rather long claw on its hind toe and a short tail. Sittellas have brownish upperparts, white underparts (with brown streaks), a white throat, and a brownish yellow patch around the eyes.