Red and White-Breasted Nuthatches

Once a nuthatch picks up a seed (or nut), it will fly to a nearby tree and use its woodpecker-like bill to crack (or hatch) it open.  This bird's name makes sense!  This bird will often grip the bark on the tree and climb down head first.

There are three types of nuthatches - 2 that can be found in New England, and only one that is commonly found here.  The White-Breasted Nuthatch is our local variety.  It frequents backyard bird feeders, so you may be familiar with it.

The White-Breasted Nuthatch is 5-6".  Its head has a black cap and it has small black eyes on a white face.  Per my bird guide, the undertail coverts are chestnut colored.  OK, after doing some additional research, I learned that coverts are a set of feathers that cover other feathers.  Undertail coverts help to smooth airflow over the tail.

White-Breasted Nuthatch 

Ashland, MA

(showing all of its identifying features)

The Red-Breasted Nuthatch is 4 1/2".  Its head has a black cap and it has a broad black stripe through the eye with a white stripe above it.  The breast and underparts are rusty in coloring or "red".  The Red-Breasted Nuthatch can currently be found locally, but this is only because of an irruption resulting from a food shortage (cone crop failure) in their normal territory to our north.  Apparently, Red-Breasted Nuthatches have currently been seen as far south as Florida, so they must really be on the hunt for a replacement pine cone supply.

Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Sandwich, MA

(showing all of its identifying features)

For you curious types, the third type of nuthatch, the Brown-Headed Nuthatch, is found to our south (from Delaware/Maryland south).  It's the same size as the Red-Breasted Nuthatch, but has a brown cap that goes all the way down to its eyes.  [I have never seen one and don't have a photo of this type.]