Red-breasted Nuthatch

(Sitta canadensis)

Conservation Status
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Photo by Bill Reynolds
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

     
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Size

 
 

4½ in length

8½ wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Breeding: Spruce-fir and pine forests and pine plantations

Migration: Mixed woodlands

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Early April to late May and mid-August to early November

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common to uncommon year-round resident in the south; local migrant and breeder in the north; uncommon to occasionally common migrant in the west

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)  
 

Family

Sittidae (nuthatches)  
 

Genus

Sitta (nuthatches)  
       
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       
Visitor Photos
   

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Gregory Gilman
       

Brown Nuthatch

  Red-breasted Nuthatch    
       
Ramona Abrego
       
  Red-breasted Nuthatch   Red-breasted Nuthatch
       
  Red-breasted Nuthatch   Red-breasted Nuthatch
       
  Red-breasted Nuthatch   Red-breasted Nuthatch
       
Alfredo Colon
       
  Red-breasted Nuthatch    
       
Luciearl
       
  Red-breasted Nuthatch    
       
Bill Reynolds
       

A Red-breasted Nuthatch, though well within their range, it's not a common bird here on the edge of the prairie in NW Pennington County

  Red-breasted Nuthatch    
       
  Red-breasted Nuthatch   Red-breasted Nuthatch
       
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
   
       
       
       

 

Camera

 

     
Slideshows
   
  Red-breasted Nuthatch
Allen Chartier
 
  Red-breasted Nuthatch  
     
  Red-breasted Nuthatch
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
 
  Red-breasted Nuthatch  
     
  Red-breasted Nuthatch
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Red-breasted Nuthatch  

 

slideshow

       
Visitor Videos
   

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Other Videos
 
  Red-breasted Nuthatch - Excavating Nest
WIld Bird Video Productions
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 12, 2012

A red-breasted nuthatch excavating a nest cavity in a dead spruce tree. © 2011 Garth McElroy.

License at http://www.paya.com/videos/135201

   
       
  Backyard birding: Red-breasted nuthatch
The State Journal-Register
 
   
 
About

Published on Mar 7, 2013

The search for food has brought some birds south to Illinois this fall. The red-breasted nuthatch is showing up at backyard feeders in good numbers. For more birding and nature news, visit: www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/birding.

   
       
  Red-breasted Nuthatch
barredowl14
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Dec 11, 2007

Seen at Dunes State Park.

   
       
  The Red-breasted Nuthatch (60 seconds)
HinterlandWW
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Mar 9, 2010

Like all nuthatches the Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis has short legs, a flat body, and a large head. Its strong, rather long bill is slightly upturned. The Red-breasted Nuthatch can be distinguished from other nuthatches by a pronounced white eyebrow stripe set off by a black line through the eye, and black on top of the head and neck. The crown is black in the male and dark greyish-blue in the female. The back, wings, and tail are mostly greyish-blue in both male and female. The rusty-coloured underparts that give this species its name are paler in the female. The long and pointed wings when folded extend nearly to the tip of the short tail. The birds overall length is about 11 cm.

   
       
  Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) at Mount Pinos, California
Larsphoto1
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Nov 4, 2011

No description available.

   
       

 

Camcorder

         
Visitor Sightings
   

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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.

Ramona Abrego

Location: Cook County

Red-breasted Nuthatch


Alfredo Colon
1/14/2019

Location: Woodbury, MN

Red-breasted Nuthatch


Ramona Abrego
10/24/2018

Location: Becker County

Red-breasted Nuthatch


Luciearl
10/17/2018

Location: Cass County

Red-breasted Nuthatch


Ramona Abrego
10/15/2018

Location: Becker County

Red-breasted Nuthatch


Bill Reynolds
5/8/2017

Location: Pennington County

A Red-breasted Nuthatch, though well within their range, it's not a common bird here on the edge of the prairie in NW Pennington County

Red-breasted Nuthatch


Gregory Gilman
2/19/2015

Location: Rochester, MN

Red-breasted Nuthatch


Bill Reynolds
3/20/2006

Location: Pennington Co.

Red-breasted Nuthatch


     
     
 
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