Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta canadensis · Species of bird
Order
Passeriformes
Codes
rebnut, RBNU

About the Red-breasted Nuthatch

The red-breasted nuthatch is a small songbird. The adult has blue-grey upperparts with cinnamon underparts, a white throat and face with a black stripe through the eyes, a straight grey bill and a black crown. Its call, which has been likened to a tin trumpet, is high-pitched and nasal. It breeds in coniferous forests across Canada, Alaska and the northeastern and western United States. Though often a permanent resident, it regularly irrupts further south if its food supply fails. There are records of vagrants occurring as far south as the Gulf Coast and northern Mexico. It forages on the trunks and large branches of trees, often descending head first, sometimes catching insects in flight. It eats mainly insects and seeds, especially from conifers. It excavates its nest in dead wood, often close to the ground, smearing the entrance with pitch.

Source: Wikipedia

Taxonomy & Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyNuthatches (Sittidae)
SpeciesSitta canadensis
Species Codesrebnut, RBNU

Frequently Asked Questions

What family does the Red-breasted Nuthatch belong to?

The Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) belongs to the Nuthatches family (Sittidae), in the order Passeriformes.

How can I identify the Red-breasted Nuthatch?

The red-breasted nuthatch is a small songbird. The adult has blue-grey upperparts with cinnamon underparts, a white throat and face with a black stripe through the eyes, a straight grey bill and a black crown. Its call, which has been likened to a tin trumpet, is high-pitched and nasal. It breeds in...

Where can I report a Red-breasted Nuthatch sighting?

You can log sightings of Red-breasted Nuthatch on eBird (ebird.org) using species code rebnut, or on iNaturalist.