Red-breasted Nuthatch

About This Species

A compact, active nuthatch with a distinctive black eye stripe and rusty breast, the Red-breasted Nuthatch is a year-round resident of coniferous forests. Its nasal yank-yank call is often heard before the bird is seen.

Fun Facts

• Sticky defense: Smears tree sap around nest entrance to deter predators and competitors.
• Upside-down forager: Specializes in walking headfirst down tree trunks while searching for food.
• Irruptive migrant: Some years sees large southward movements when cone crops fail in the north.
• Seed hoarder: Caches seeds in bark crevices for later retrieval.