|
General:
White-breasted Nuthatches are agile birds that can typically be seen walking
along a tree and even hanging upside down below a tree branch as it searches
for insects and seeds.
White-breasted Nuthatches are common around
bird feeders often taking seeds, nuts or pecking at suet. In winter,
White-breasted Nuthatches join mixed flocks with
chickadees and
tufted
titmice.
White-breasted Nuthatches typically build nests in natural
tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes. The eggs are about .7" long are
white with light red-brown speckles. The chicks hatch in approximately 13 -
14 days and fledge in about another 14 days.
Identification:
The largest North American nuthatch, the White-breasted Nuthatch
has a large head, short tail
and short wings. They are a sparrow sized bird,
approximately 5" - 6" long. The upperparts of the White-breasted Nuthatch
are pale blue-gray, and the face and under-parts are white. It has a black
cap and a white lower belly.
Habitat: White-breasted
Nuthatches are birds of mature woods and woodland edges. They are more
likely to be found in deciduous tree stands, including maple, hickory,
basswood, and oak. However, they can also be found in coniferous forests.
Territory: They are widely dispersed. White-breasted Nuthatches range from
British Columbia to Nova Scotia to Florida and Mexico
Food: The White-breasted Nuthatch forages along tree trunks and
branches in a similar way to woodpeckers. White-breasted Nuthatches eat
insects. They also eat seeds and nuts, including acorns, hawthorn, sunflower
seeds. At birdfeeders they eat seeds, nuts
and suet.
Credits: Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter The
Audubon Society - Field Guide to North American Birds (Eastern Region)
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cornell Lab of Ornithology
|
|