The White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a small, stocky songbird common across mature deciduous and mixed forests throughout much of North America. This active bird is easily recognized by its gray-blue back, white face and underparts, and a black cap in males, with a total length of about 5.1 to 5.5 inches. Nuthatches are non-migratory and defend their territory year-round, which requires them to be adaptable foragers. Their feeding habits are omnivorous, relying heavily on insects during warmer months and transitioning to seeds and nuts for winter survival.
The Primary Role of Insects in the Diet
The White-Breasted Nuthatch operates as an important insectivore, with insects and spiders forming the majority of its diet during spring and summer. This protein-rich food source is especially vital during the breeding season when parents are feeding their young. Nestlings are fed almost exclusively on insects and arthropods, which provide the necessary nutrients for rapid growth. The nuthatches are highly beneficial for consuming numerous species of tree pests, making them a natural pest control agent in forests. They actively seek out and consume weevils, caterpillars, ants, bark beetles, and scale insects by probing the bark surface and crevices of trees.
Seasonal Consumption of Seeds and Nuts
As temperatures drop and insect populations diminish, the nuthatch’s diet shifts to plant matter, or mast, for energy. During the fall and winter, the proportion of seeds and nuts in their diet can increase from zero in summer to over 60% or 70%. This change provides the high-fat and high-carbohydrate content needed to maintain body temperature and survive the cold. Naturally occurring food sources include large seeds and nuts like acorns, hickory nuts, and seeds from trees such as hawthorn. These items are crucial for supplying the concentrated energy required for winter metabolism.
Unique Foraging and Food Caching Behavior
White-Breasted Nuthatches possess a unique ability that distinguishes them from most other bark-foraging birds. They are famous for their acrobatic descent, moving head-first down tree trunks and branches without using their tail for support. This inverted perspective allows them to spot insects and seeds hidden in bark crevices that birds climbing upward might miss. They are also known for caching, or scatter-hoarding, food items one at a time for later consumption. They use their strong, pointed bill to hammer open a large seed or nut wedged into a crevice, a behavior often referred to as “hatching” the nut.
Specific Foods to Offer at Feeders
For those looking to attract this active bird, offering specific foods at a backyard feeder can be highly effective, especially during the colder months. Black oil sunflower seeds are a top preference, with hulled sunflower hearts being particularly favored as they eliminate the need for the bird to remove the shell. Nuthatches also readily consume suet, especially formulations that include peanut butter or nuts, which provide a boost of fat and protein. Peanut pieces or shelled peanuts are popular, as the birds appreciate the high caloric density. Due to their unique foraging style, nuthatches often prefer platform feeders or suet cages, and they typically take a single item and fly away to cache it before returning for another.