Jan 26, 2023
White-breasted nuthatches weigh more than twice their little cousins, the red-breasted nuthatches. More handsome than cute, their black head grading into a gray back and mostly white belly is quite natty.
Beyond size and color, these two cousins have some interesting
similarities and differences. They both eat mostly insects in the
summer, and feed insects to their chicks as well. Both find those
bugs by clinging to tree bark with their super strong feet and long
claws, and moving headfirst down the trunk. Their short tail stays
out of the way.
This behavior is thought to give nuthatches a different perspective
than the woodpeckers and brown creepers who they often feed
near.