Library #14 · A Backyard · Wave 2

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis · Sittidae

Walks headfirst down tree trunks looking for hidden insects.

At a glance

Size: 5.1–5.5 in
Wingspan: 7.9–10.6 in
Habitat: Mature woods with big trees, suburbs
Diet: Insects, seeds; wedges nuts into bark

Range: Much of the U.S. and southern Canada

Nesting: Tree cavity lined with fur and bark shreds.

Coloring pose idea: Head-down on oak trunk

Hear this bird

General call / song: Nasal yank; also a rapid yammering.

Mating / display: Male’s faster song-like yank series in spring; soft notes at the nest.

Buttons open trusted public pages with playable recordings. We link out — we do not host or embed the audio.

Play calls on All About Birds Species overview Audubon field guide

How to know it

Blue-gray back, white face and breast, black cap (male).
Short tail, long bill, compact body.
Yank yank nasal call is distinctive.

Behavior

Wedges seeds into bark crevices and hammers them open.
Pairs stay on territory year-round in many areas.
Visits suet and sunflower feeders.

Fun facts

Name may come from nuthack — hacking nuts.
Often joins chickadee flocks in winter.
Strong feet let them climb in any direction.

Companion page for the Birds Coloring Calendar series by R. J. D. B. Fact summaries are original educational text or short paraphrases with source links. Call playback via link to All About Birds / Cornell Lab. Re-test QR codes on a phone before final print. Not affiliated with Cornell Lab or Audubon.