White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)...

            White-breasted Nuthatches are gray-blue on the back, with a frosty white face and underparts. The black or gray cap and neck frame the face and make it look like the bird is wearing a hood. The lower belly and under the tail is often chestnut. And while it's the largest of the four North American Nuthatches, it's still a relatively small bird with a body length of only 5 - 6 inches (13 - 14 cm) and a wingspan of 8 - 11 inches (20 - 27 cm). 

The female has on average, a narrower back band, slightly duller upperparts and buffer underparts than the male. But the surest way to distinguish a female is her cap can be gray. Unfortunately many females have black caps, thus they can be difficult to distinguish from the male in the field. But if it has a gray cap you can be assured it's a female.

The White-breasted Nuthatch has nine sub-species, although the differences are small and change gradually across its range. Based on my location the Nuthatches in this series would be sub-specis S. c. carolinensis. Supposedly the difference is this sub-species has the palest back and cap. It also happens to be the "nominate" sub-species (i.e. the best to describe and represent its species, which bears the species' specific name).

The White-breasted Nuthatch, like all four members of the genus, has a large head, short tail, short wings, a powerful bill and strong feet. Nuthatches in general are active, agile little birds with an appetite for insects and large, meaty seeds. They get their common name from their habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark, then whacking them with their sharp bill to “hatch” out the seed from the inside. 

Like most of its genus, the White-breasted Nuthatch is non-migratory, and the adults normally stay in their territory year-round. But there may be some noticeable dispersal due to seed failure or high reproductive success in some years.

Of the four species of Nuthatches in North America, the White-breasted Nuthatch is the most common. Especially in the eastern half of the continent. These tree climbing birds are very adept at climbing up, around, and even down a tree in search of insects that it gleans from the trunk or limbs. It is also the largest of the four species...the other three being the Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Pygmy Nuthatch. These three significantly smaller nuthatches have ranges which overlap that of the White-breasted, but none has white plumage completely surrounding the eye. 

ISO3200, aperture f/8, exposure .003 seconds (1/320) focal length 630mm

Taken on: February 5, 2020

Tags:

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

bird

avian

wildlife

nature

fauna

telephoto

teleconverter

pentax

K-3 « less

Sets appears in: • Birds au naturel pt. 10...

Camera: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. PENTAX K-3, f/8.0, 1/320 sec, 630mm (=945mm), ISO 3200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. PENTAX K-3
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/320)
Focal Length:	630mm (35mm equivalent: 945mm)
ISO:	3200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Manual
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	PENTAX K-3 Ver. 1.00
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