Nuthatches and Wall Creepers: Sittidae
Nuthatch (sitta Europaea): Species Accounts
Physical characteristics: Nuthatches have blue-gray upperparts, rusty under parts, brown to white undersides, a blue-gray crown, a white throat, and a black line through the eyes with a white line above them. Coloration varies greatly due to the species' very large range. Females and juveniles have a duller head coloring and paler under parts. They are 5.5 inches (14 centimeters) long, with a short tail, and weigh 0.7 to 0.9 ounces (20 to 25 grams).
Geographic range: The birds range widely in temperate Eurasia, from the western coast of the Atlantic Ocean to the eastern coast of the Pacific Ocean. They have the most extensive range of all nuthatches.
Habitat: Nuthatches are located in mature temperate forests, from deciduous to coniferous ones.
Diet: Nuthatches eat invertebrates, such as insects, from tree bark and foliage, especially from branches. They also eat fruits, nuts, and
Pairs of nuthatches live together and defend a territory against other nuthatches.
Behavior and reproduction: Nuthatches are often seen running along tree branches or up and down trunks in search of insects. They occur as pairs that defend a breeding territory. The birds do not migrate. During the nonbreeding season, nuthatches are seen in flocks with many different species. Pairs nest in cavities and holes of trees. Nests are cup-shaped and made of bark flakes. The entrance to the nest is often plastered with mud to reduce its size to the width of the female's body, in order to deter enemies. Females sit on the eggs, but both sexes feed the chicks.
Nuthatches and people: People and nuthatches have no known significant relationship.
Conservation status: Nuthatches are not threatened, being common throughout their habitat. ∎
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Books:
Alsop, Fred J. III. Birds of North America. New York: DK, 2001.
Baughman, Mel M., ed. Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America. Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2003.
del Hoyo, Josep, Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal, Jose Cabot, et al, eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, 1992.
Dickinson, Edward C., ed. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World, 3rd ed. Princeton, NJ and Oxford, U.K.: Princeton University Press, 2003.
Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 4th ed. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2002.
Harrison, Colin James Oliver. Birds of the World. London, U.K. and New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1993.
Forshaw, Joseph, ed. Encyclopedia of Birds, 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1998.
Kaufman, Kenn, with collaboration of Rick and Nora Bowers and Lynn Hassler Kaufman. Birds of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.
Sibley, David. The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.
Terres, John K. The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds. New York: Knopf, 1980.
Additional topics
- Nuthatches and Wall Creepers: Sittidae - Red-breasted Nuthatch (sitta Canadensis): Species Accounts
- Other Free Encyclopedias
Animal Life ResourceBirdsNuthatches and Wall Creepers: Sittidae - Physical Characteristics, Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Red-breasted Nuthatch (sitta Canadensis): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, WALL CREEPERS NUTHATCHES AND PEOPLE, CONSERVATION STATUS