Page 354 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

NUTHATCHES,WALLCREEPER,AND TREECREEPERS
Order Passeriformes Family Sittidae Species Sitta europaea
Nuthatch dagger-like
grey bill

short black stripe
tail through eye
broad wings pale buff
below;
rusty
flanks
blue-grey
back and
cap
acrobatic
pose

IN FLIGHT

large feet

lmost all the Nuthatch’s life is spent clinging to the
Abranches of tall trees, although it does forage on rocks,
walls, and old buildings and quite often visits the ground.
It also comes to bird feeders in gardens near woods. But it dark base and
white corners
is principally as expert, agile climbers that Nuthatches have of tail
evolved, equally at home coming head-down as climbing head-
up or perched across a branch.They use the strength of their feet
and sharpness of their claws exclusively, not using their tails as
props as do woodpeckers and treecreepers. FLIGHT: bounding, slightly undulating; fast
VOICE Various loud, full, liquid whistles, pew pew pew pew, chwee wingbeats.
chwee and fast ringing trills, loud chwit.
NESTING Uses old woodpecker hole or nest box, lined with bark and leaves,
typically plastering mud around entrance; 6–9 eggs; 1 brood;April–July.
FEEDING Eats variety of seeds,
berries, nuts, acorns, and
beech-mast, often carried
to be wedged in bark for
easier manipulation; visits
peanut baskets.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in most of Europe, except
ROCK NUTHATCH Iceland, N UK, N Scandinavia,
different habitat;
see p.449 and S Spain. Occupies mixed and
deciduous woodland, parkland,
paler
below and large gardens with big
old trees all year round, rarely
plain moving far.
tail
GROUND FORAGER
Nuthatches frequently drop to the ground to seek fallen nuts and berries, Seen in the UK
hopping jerkily over the leaf litter. J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 12.5cm (5in) Wingspan 16–18cm (6 1 ⁄2 –7in) Weight 12–18g ( 7 ⁄16 – 5 ⁄8oz)
Social Loose flocks Lifespan 2–3 years Status Secure
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