Description:

With its woodpecker-like jizz and exotic plumage the Nuthatch is fairly easy to recognise. It is steely grey-blue above, pinky buff below and has a prominent black eyetstripe, white chin and dark, dagger-like bill. Nuthatches are busy and agile birds, typically seen working their way down a tree trunk searching for food.

Ecology & Behaviour:

Nuthatches do not occur in Ireland nor across much of Scotland, although a few of these birds have started to breed in southern Scotland as part of a slow range expansion. However, in general Nuthatches are extraordinarily sedentary, making only short flights from tree to tree.

Nuthatches will use nest boxes and plaster round the hole with mud until it makes an exact specification, which only they seem to know. Nuthatches prefer old holes in large, mature deciduous trees but they like to line them with bark flakes from conifers, especially Scots Pine.

Garden BirdWatch links

A 'Focus On' article on the Nuthatch appeared in issue 22 of the Bird Table magazine. Garden BirdWatch participants can download a copy of this article from the participant only pages.