When I saw my first red-breasted nuthatch, I couldn’t believe I actually got it on camera. I had seen one once before, but it was on the move and I wasn’t able to get a good photo. I almost missed my first shot as well — they have a habit of mixing in with other flocks, and when I first saw his head peeking through I mistook it for just another chickadee.
I still find them a bit challenging to photograph. When I do come across them, they are usually pretty high up in the trees, and they don’t always come down.
Quick Facts
Latin Name: Sitta canadensis
Size: 54 — 67 cm in length; wingspan of 115 to 150 cm
Lifespan: 1 – 3 years
Red-Breasted Nuthatch Diet
Red-breasted nuthatches are known to hang upside down while foraging. While I didn’t get any satisfactory photos of this, it was still awesome to see.
Nesting Season
During nesting, the red-breasted nuthatch collects the sticky resin from the coniferous trees for their nest. The female puts the resin inside, and the male on the outside. It might help keep out predators, but it also means that the nuthatch must have a perfect dive when entering the nest to avoid getting all sticky.
Sources
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