White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch Information
Length: 5 - 6 "
Habitat: Typically, mature deciduous forests; also mixed woodlands. Prefers forest edges or open woodlands.
Diet: Insects and their larvae, such as leaf beetles, tree hoppers, ants, gypsy moth larvae, and tent caterpillars; spiders. In winter, seeds and mast.
Song and calls of White-breasted Nuthatch
Preferred Bird Feeder Food
White-breasted Nuthatches favor black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, peanuts (whole or hulled), and suet. They especially enjoy suet containing peanut butter.
These birds will come to tube feeders, hoppers, platform feeders and suet cages.
Additional Information
White-breasted NuthatchDescription, distribution, behavior, diet, reproduction, predators, lifespan, and conservation status. Includes photos and range map. (From Wikipedia)
More Winter Feeder BirdsWhite-breasted Nuthatch
Identification Tips
- Straight gray bill
- Black crown and nape
- White face and underparts
- Blue-gray upperparts
- Rusty undertail coverts
- Short tail
- Sexes similar but female duller
- Feeds by hopping along tree trunks and branches often hanging upside down
(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Breeding Bird Survey Map,
2011-2015
(Image credit: USGS)
Range in New England
The White-breasted Nuthatch is found year-round throughout New England.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Range Maps from Cornell
White-breasted Nuthatch nonbreeding and year-round range
Includes separate map of sightings.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Christmas Bird Count Map
Historical CBC Map from USGS