nuthatch
1. Bird Name
English name: Nuthatch
Scientific name: Sitta Europaea
2. Appearance
With a stout body and short tail, nuthatches are easily recognizable. Their upperparts are of a bluish-grey tone, while their underparts range from a creamy white to rust color. Their cheeks are also a striking white shade, contrasting with the black stripe that travels through their eyes extending towards the back of their heads. The birds sport a long, pointed beak; ideal for their feeding habits. There’s little sexual dimorphism in nuthatches, which means males and females look nearly identical.
3. Size
Nuthatches are small birds, on average, measuring 14 cm (5.5 inches) in length. They sport a wingspan between 22.2 to 27 cm (8.7 to 10.6 inches) and weigh around 18 to 27 grams (0.6 to 0.9 ounces).
4. Habitat & Distribution
Nuthatches are found in a variety of regions worldwide, including North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. They populate a diversity of environments, from dense forests to gardens, where there are trees. Typically, they prefer habitats with mature deciduous trees.
5. Interesting Facts
Nuthatches can ‘freeze’ when interrupted, holding their pose until the danger is past. Interestingly, they travel head-first down trees – an adaptation that sets them apart from other birds. They also plaster their nests with mud to deter predators and competitors. Their name comes from their habit of wedging a nut in a crevice and then hacking it open with their beak – a unique method of ‘hatching’ it.
6. Diet
Nuthatches primarily feed on insects, their larvae, and seeds. They are also known to include nuts and fruits in their diet. Notably, during autumn, nuthatches hoard and store large quantities of nuts and seeds and save it for winter consumption.
7. Behavior & Sounds
Nuthatches are known for their agility on tree trunks, busy foraging in the branches and crevices. They emit rapid, noisy, whistled calls that echo through the forest. These calls often resemble a high, piercing “twee-twee-twee” sound.
8. Conservation Status
According to the IUCN Red List, the nuthatch is currently classified as ‘least concern’. This status indicates a stable and widespread population.
9. Lifespan
In the wild, nuthatches can live up to 12 years, though this lifespan can expand to a maximum of 20 years in optimal conditions.
10. Additional Notes
In some cultures, the nuthatch is considered a symbol of honesty and hard work. They are beneficial to ecosystems as controllers of harmful pests and also in helping with seed dispersal. Nuthatches are solitary during the winter season but may join mixed species feeding flocks. They are known for their fearless behavior towards larger birds and are aggressive defenders of their nests. In some languages, their name directly translates to ‘tree climber.’
