ANIMAL ESTATE client 5.2: WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH
FOR ANIMAL ESTATE 5.0: PORTLAND
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Sitta carolinensis
ANMAL DESCRIPTION: Identified by its black cap, beady black eyes and white face - which leads the small, stout bird headfirst, and often upside down, on vertical climbs up and down trees using its powerful feet and woodpecker-like bill to feed on bark insects, seeds, and nuts.
RANGE: The White-breasted Nuthatch ranges from southern Canada to Mexico, being mostly confined to the Northern Hemisphere. The bird is known to wander in wintertime, though they don't tend to migrate.
HABITAT: Sitta carolinensis is found in mature deciduous forests, especially near openings and edges. The low, nasal sounding whi, whi, whi, who, who, who, what, what, what song might also be heard around parks and suburbs with large trees.
HOME CONSTRUCTION: During courtship, the male bows before her, sings to her and brings her food. The nest is often 15-50 feet up in large trees of Oaks, Elm, Maple in a natural cavity or woodpecker's hole. Sometimes they will nest in a man-made bird box. Nest materials include shreds of bark, plant fibers, twigs, fur/hair and feathers. link
THREATS: The bird faces no drastic threat, though it is preyed upon by hawks and snakes, and competes with squirrels for tree cavities. They also use a piece of fur or vegetation to wipe around their nest opening when they leave the nest. This covers up their scent and keeps squirrels and other predators from using smell to find their nests. link
The removal of dead trees from forests takes away potential dwelling spaces.
INTERESTING FACTS: White-breasted nuthatches help to control insect populations in the summer. They also disperse the seeds of many plants. link
Nuthatches gather nuts and seeds, jam them into tree bark, and hammer or "hatch" the food open with their bills.
The White-breasted Nuthatch is normally territorial throughout the year, with pairs staying together. The male is more vigilant when he forages alone than when he is with the female. The female, however, is in danger of having the more dominant male displace her from foraging sites, and she is more vigilant when he is around than when she is alone.
In winter, the White-breasted Nuthatch joins foraging flocks led by chickadees or titmice. One explanation for these flocks is that the birds gain protection from predators by the vigilance of the other birds. In support of this idea, one study found that if titmice were removed from a flock, nuthatches were more wary and reluctant to come to exposed bird feeders. link
The White-breasted Nuthatch was first described by John Latham in his 1790 Index Ornithologicus . The genus name Sitta is derived from sitt? , the Ancient Greek for nuthatch, and the specific epithet carolinensis means "belonging to Carolina." link
Building a nest box: White-breasted Nuthatches will make use of nest boxes, and they are attracted by feeders with nuts, suet, and sunflower seeds. They particularly like oak trees and other deciduous species.
Plans:
REFERENCES:
Johnson, Catherine J., Susan McDiarmid, Edward R. Turner. Welcoming Wildlife to the Garden: Creating Backyard & Balcony Habitats for Wildlife . Vancouver, B.C. and Point Roberts, WA: Hartley & Marks, 2002.
Peterson, Roger Tory. A Field Guide to Western Birds, 2 nd Ed . Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1961.