Any given winter morning I can step outside and be assured of one thing: ‘beeping’ Nuthatches. They are most plentiful on the lot. And as I walk down the drive, I hear their calls from all directions. It reminds me of a Woodland traffic jam! The Nuthatch.
The Nuthatch jams seeds into tree bark crevices
Nuthatches are frequent visitors of the sunflower and safflower feeders. And, something I found interesting, Nuthatches stash seeds away in the crevices of tree bark. I believe they feed on most of what they gather in a day but they also save for tomorrow. A prudent little bird, the Nuthatch.
Nuthatches defy gravity
Another thing amazing about the Nuthatch is their ability to defy gravity as they hop along on the underside of a tree branch. Absolutely amazing. Nuthatches can be difficult to photograph for this reason. They will hop circles and spirals around tree branches. While most birds simply perch atop a branch, the Nuthatch seems to appreciate viewing the surrounding landscape from all perspectives – especially upside-down.
Nuthatches seem to prefer mature Oak stands with a full canopy. They are inclined to use old woodpecker holes and hollowed out branches/trunks for nesting sites and typically do not create their own. Nuthatches are a year-round resident of Minnesota. Keeping us company on those cold winter days.
I was out yesterday taking a few photos of Nuthatches and Chickadees. I’ll share several of the Nuthatch photos here. I must say, I had to react quickly to get these shots. The Nuthatches were very busy yesterday!
The Nuthatch acquired its name based on a unique feeding behavior. As I mentioned above, Nuthatches are ‘bark feeders.’ That is to say they jam nuts and acorns into the bark of a tree – typically a gnarly Oak – and then hammer away at the nut until it ‘hatches’ from its shell. The Nuthatch.
Male Nuthatches have a black crown while females have a lighter gray crown. I believe the second and third photos are captures of a female and the top photo is that of a male.
Closing
Nuthatches are comical birds to watch. Most often, you will see them hopping upside down, down a tree trunk. Gravity defying birds. But if you notice, they have incredibly long claws on their toes, ideal for clinging and clutching onto rough tree bark.
I hope you enjoyed this brief overview of a delightful backyard comic. The feeders just wouldn’t be the same without the beeping Nuthatches making their frequent rounds. It is still dark, no beeping yet. But when it lightens up, the Nuthatches will be out – and so will I – to listen to their happy little beeps.
You can contact me here if you have interest in a Nuthatch print. Be sure to check out RedBarnProject.com for more Nuthatch images. Peace.
