White-Breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Habitat:
The White-breated Nuthatch is known as the upside-down bird because it can walk down trees headfirst. It relies on strong toes and claws to grip the bark as it walks up and down trunks. It is attracted to bird feeders and often carries away seeds to hide them in crevices

Diet:
Its diet is mostly insects during the summer, and supplementing these with seeds in the winter. The porportion of seeds in the diet may range from zero in the summer to more than 60 per cent in the winter. Will also feed on suet and peanut mixtures at feeders. Young are fed entirely on insects and spiders.

Nesting:
Pairs remain together in nesting territory all year; may mate for life. In courtship display, male raises head, spreads tail, droops wings, sways back and forth, and bows deeply. Male also feed female.
Nests are built in a large natural cavity or old woodpecker hole, usually 15-60' above the ground. Rarely use bird houses and may sometimes excavate own cavity.
Female builds the nest in the cavity, a simple cup of bark fibers, grasses, twigs and hair. Adults may spend minutes at a time sweeping the outside and inside of the nest with a crushed insect held in bill. Chemical secretions of insects may help repel predators.

Eggs:
5-9, rarely 10, white spotted with reddish brown. Female incubates 12-14 days and is fed by the male. Both parents fed young. Age when young leave the nest is variable, ranging from 14-26 days.

Young:
Both parents feed the young. One or two additional birds, the pair's offspring from previous broods, may attend the nest and sometimes feed the nestlings. Young leave the nest about 18-23 days after hatching. 1 or 2 broods per year.

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