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| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) |
If you are seeking "cute," consider the
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis). But don't be misled by looks. This athletic little bird is all business. You will never catch them in an idle moment. They are also fearless. If I am working near the feeders, they boldly fly in without concern.
iBird reveals some interesting facts:
- An extended hind toe and short tail aid in running around the sides of trees.
- They hoard food by hammering it into the bark of trees.
- They put sticky pitch around their nest holes, apparently to discourage predators, pests or rivals.
- A group of nuthatches is know as a "jar."
On South Fidalgo, they are more numerous in the fall and winter, apparently migrants from their mountainous nesting areas. They prefer conferous forests and dig nest holes in dead trees or snags. Males have a black cap. Females have a gray cap and their rust undersides are paler.
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| A Dark-eyed Junco shares the feeder |
