Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)

Red-breasted Nuthatches are a very tame winter visitor to home feeders in South Dakota, although they can also be found year-round in the Black Hills. They will often ignore a human presence just a few feet away as they visit a feeder. Winter numbers vary greatly from year to year. They can migrate very early in the fall, often already arriving by September (as with the bird in the photo to the right).

Habitat

Nearly always found in conifer-dominated forests during the nesting season. They will utilize all forest habitats during migration and in winter, and are also often found in urban settings.

Diet

Red-breasted Nuthatch primarily eat insects and other small invertebrates in the summer months. During the winter months, most of their diet typically consists of the seeds of conifer trees..

Behavior

Feeds by clambering along the trunks and branches of trees. They will use crevices in tree bark as a seed cache, storing seeds for later retrieval.

Nesting

May through July. Red-breasted Nuthatch are cavity nesters, and they are one of the few non-woodpecker species to excavate their own cavity. Females do most of the nest site excavation, helped some by the male, who also may bring food to the female while she excavates. They typically build cavities in aspen or other trees with a wood that's easier to remove, and usually in a dead tree or dead part of a tree. Once excavation is complete, a base in constructed in the bottom of the cavity, consisting of grasses, bits of bark, moss, feathers, or other material. The entrance to the nest and the inside opening are typically coated with pine resin. The purpose is unknown, but it's thought to potentially deter predators and/or reduce insect pests. The female lays between 3 and 7 eggs, and she alone incubates them. The young hatch after 12-14 days, and fledge from the nest 16-20 days after hatching.

Song / Calls

The most often heard vocalization of a Red-breasted Nuthatches is a nasal, tin-horn sounding yank-yank-yank call, which can vary in speed and length. Single yank notes may be given, or longer series may be given.

Migration

Red-breasted Nuthatches are permanent residents in much of Canada and the mountains of the western United States. Numbers and distribution in the rest of the United States vary greatly in winter from year to year.

Interactive eBird Map

Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Red-breasted Nuthatch sightings

Similar Species to Red-breasted Nuthatch

There are two other nuthatch species in South Dakota, and another in the southeastern US that could potentially be confused with the Red-breasted Nuthatch.

White-breasted Nuthatch - White-breasted Nuthatch are common in much of South Dakota, and could easily be found in conjunction with Red-breasted Nuthatch. The names alone give away a primary means of telling them apart, as the White-breasted Nuthatch has mostly white underparts, with some chestnut-coloring under the tail. The Red-breasted Nuthatch has a rusty reddish color on its underparts. Both species have bluish-gray upperparts, a white face, and a dark cap, but the face of a White-breasted Nuthatch is plain, while a Red-breasted Nuthatch has a bold black stripe through the eye. White-breasted Nuthatch are noticeably larger than Red-breasted Nuthatch, but size can be difficult to judge in the field.
Pygmy Nuthatch - In South Dakota, Pygmy Nuthatch are a rare resident of the Black Hills, and not likely to be seen far outside of that area in the state. As the name implies they are slightly smaller than a Red-breasted Nuthatch, but size alone is difficult to judge in the field. Pygmy Nuthatch may have a whitish to a light buffy-colored belly and chest, and in certain light, those with more color underneath could resemble a Red-breasted Nuthach. Note the strongly different head patterns though, with a simple dark cap on a Pygmy Nuthatch, the white face with black eyeline on a Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Brown-headed Nuthatch - Brown-headed Nuthatch are found in the southeastern US and aren't going to cause an identification issue with Red-breasted Nuthatch in South Dakota. In range where their paths might cross, Brown-headed Nuthatch have a similar bluish back, but have light whitish underparts, and a head pattern that consists of a white throat and lower face, with a brown cap that extends back to the nape, and downward through the eye. Compare to the strong striped appearance of the face of a Red-breasted Nuthatch.


White-breasted Nuthatch	White-breasted Nuthatch	Pygmy Nuthatch	Brown-headed Nuthatch

Feeders

Red-breasted Nuthatch will come to feeders for sunflower seeds, various nuts, and suet.

Conservation Status

Systematic surveys over the last few decades have shown substantial increases in populations of Red-breasted Nuthatch. They are found across a very broad geographic range, and they are common in many parts of that range. The IUCN considers the Red-breasted Nuthatch to be a species of "Least Concern".

Photo Information

September 23rd, 2018 - Newton Hills State Park - Terry Sohl

AAudio File Credits

¹Christopher McPherson. Recorded in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire on February 5th, 2020. Original recording and information available from xeno-canto.
²Martin St-Michel. Recorded in Quebec on May 21st, 2017. Original recording and information available from xeno-canto.
³Bates Estabrooks. Recorded in Anderson County, Tennessee on November 5th, 2016. Original recording and information available from xeno-canto.
⁴Martin St-Michel. Recorded in Quebec on May 19th, 2016. Original recording and information available from xeno-canto.