White breasted nuthatch, female, Urbana, IL, 2008. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

White breated nuthatch, male, Oregon, 2006. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

white-breasted nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

Identification: 
This little bird is a bit smaller than a sparrow.  It is blue-gray on the back, with black and white feathers, a white breast, a black (males) or grayish (females) crown, and black beady eye on a white face.  It has a sturdy beak, long relative to its overall size.

Behavior:
The white-breasted nuthatch is a “bark forager” and it is notable for advancing down a tree trunk head-first.  Besides insects it also avidly eats sunflowers and suet.  It makes a scolding but soft “whatwhatwhatwhatwhat” sound. It is a cavity nester.   

What brings it to the SBG?
Food, cover, nesting sites.  The white-breasted nuthatch eats seeds, nuts, and insects.  Its habitat is woodland, but it can be found any place there are large trees, so SBG is a good place to find this bird.  It is a cavity nester and uses pre-made cavities.

When can I see it?
Year-round.