Brown-headed Nuthatch

Sitta pusilla

The Brown-headed Nuthatch is a small, cheerful bird with a brown head and a sweet song. They love to climb trees and often hang upside down while searching for food.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Brown-headed Nuthatch has a warm brown cap contrasting with its bluish-gray back and white belly. This small, compact bird has a short tail and appears much like a tiny acrobat in the trees, unique for its head-first climbing.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilySittidaeGenusSitta

Photo: derivative work: Snowmanradio ( talk ) Brown-headed_Nuthatch-27527.jpg : Ken ThomasPublic domain · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Interesting facts

Brown-headed Nuthatches sometimes share food with others in their group.

Their distinctive call sounds exactly like a rubber squeaky toy!

These birds often forage upside-down, defying gravity on tree trunks.

They plaster resin and bark flakes around their nest entrance!

Special abilities

Brown-headed Nuthatches can use small pieces of bark as tools to pry open other bark for hidden insects.

Brown-headed Nuthatches can excavate their own nest cavities in dead snags, creating safe homes for their young.

Brown-headed Nuthatches can huddle together in tree cavities during cold nights to share body heat.

Measurements & details

Length: 9-11 cm
Wingspan: 16-18 cm
Weight: 0.008-0.012 kg
Lifespan: 2-9 years
Speed: 40 km/h
Clutch Size: 4-7
Incubation: 12-14 days

Diet & Feeding

Tiny birds that love to eat seeds from pine trees and small insects hiding in the bark!

Primary Foods

Pine seeds
Beetles
Spiders
Caterpillars
Barklice

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

Cooper's Hawks might hunt small birds like nuthatches.

Eaten by

Corn Snake

Pantherophis guttatus

Snakes can raid nests or hunt foraging birds.

Depends on

Loblolly Pine

Pinus taeda

Relies on these pine trees for seeds, shelter, and nests.

Hunts

Southern Pine Beetle

Dendroctonus frontalis

Eats these beetles, helping to control forest pests.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Singing

Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species.

Arboreal

Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Diurnal

Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Birds

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them away.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Brown-headed Nuthatch?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Brown-headed Nuthatch?

9-11 cm

What is Brown-headed Nuthatch's wingspan?

16-18 cm

How much does Brown-headed Nuthatch weigh?

0.008-0.012 kg

How long does Brown-headed Nuthatch live?

2-9 years

How fast can Brown-headed Nuthatch move?

40 km/h

What does Brown-headed Nuthatch eat?

Tiny birds that love to eat seeds from pine trees and small insects hiding in the bark!