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Red-Breasted Nuthatch Habits

While a permanent resident in its breeding range, the Red-breasted Nuthatch sometimes migrates south during periods of a short food supply of conifer seeds.

You'll often see this bird upside down on the side of a tree trunk, gleaning insects from bark crevices.

Red-breasted Nuthatch Description

The Red-breasted Nuthatch measures about 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches in length.

With a black cap, black eyeline, and white eyebrow.

A stocky, small bird, with a short tail. Blue-gray back with rusty underparts.

The female and young have duller head markings and lighter underparts.

Mating Habits

Considered monogamous, Red-breasted nuthatches carry out their courtship displays at the top of trees.

Males can be heard singing their courtship song in early morning. Also from the top of trees.

Nesting Habits

Beginning in late April early May, the Nuthatch pair begins excavating a cavity nest in a dead tree. The nest site can be anywhere from 5 to 100 feet above ground. Although 15 feet above ground is about average. Sometimes uses bird houses.

Inside the cavity, bark strips, grass and plant fibers are placed at the bottom for nesting materials.

An interesting note about the Red-breasted Nuthatch is their habit of placing droplets of resin, or pitch, from balsam fir, or pine trees to smear around the entrance hole of the nesting site.

This practice continues throughout the nesting phase, resulting in an area sometimes 2 inches or more smeared with the sticky substance.

The reason for doing this is really unknown.
male red-breasted nuthatch
Speculation is to keep ants and small mammals from entering.

The Nuthatches themselves are able to fly straight into the hole without being affected by the pitch.

The female lays 4 - 7 eggs that are white and finely spotted with brown. Incubation last about 12 days. Sources differ on whether the female or both sexes incubate. The young leave the nest 18 - 21 days after hatching.

Feeding Habits

The Red-breasted Nuthatch diet consists of conifer seeds and insects. Can be attracted to feeders filled with sunflower seed. Suet feeders can also be use to attract these birds.

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