How to attract red-breasted nuthatches to your yard
Red-breasted Nuthatchs respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 61 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a year-round resident in 37 states and provinces, including Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado and 31 more — there, a yard can host it in every season. It is a winter visitor in 24, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and 18 more, where feeders and winter fruit matter most.
Plant what red-breasted nuthatches use
These native plants are tied to the Red-breasted Nuthatch in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 43 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 43 | Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. |
| Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana | Tree | 39 | Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter. |
| Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea | Tree | 39 | Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed. |
| White oak Quercus alba | Tree | 37 | Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food. |
| Flowering dogwood Cornus florida | Tree | 30 | Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers. |
| Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | Tree | 29 | Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. |
| Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum | Shrub | 26 | Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover. |
| Spicebush Lindera benzoin | Shrub | 23 | Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants. |
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Shrub | 20 | Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. |
Your list covers 2 plant layers (shrub, tree). Layering matters: add structure around these — a shrub layer under the trees gives red-breasted nuthatches a safe approach. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Conifer seeds and insects.
- Warm months
- Beetles, caterpillars and spiders
- Cold months
- Spruce, fir and pine seeds
- At feeders
- Black-oil sunflower, Suet, Peanut hearts
Feeder style matters as much as food: tube feeder with short perches is the first choice for this bird. Irrupts south in poor cone years; smears sap around its nest hole to deter predators. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Excavated cavity in soft dead conifers or aspens; uses boxes.
The Red-breasted Nuthatch uses nest boxes with a 1 1/4 in entrance, mounted 5–15 ft. Exact box dimensions →
- Clutch
- 5–8 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–13 days
- Nestling period
- 18–21 days
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around April in Arizona but not until June in Yukon. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; residents usually find a stocked yard first.
Frequently asked
What attracts red-breasted nuthatches to a yard?
Food they actually eat (black-oil sunflower, suet, peanut hearts), native plants such as American elderberry, Black cherry, Eastern red cedar, clean water and suitable nesting cover: excavated cavity in soft dead conifers or aspens; uses boxes.
What plants attract red-breasted nuthatches?
Across the Red-breasted Nuthatch's range, the native plants most often tied to it are American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Black cherry (Prunus serotina), Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), White oak (Quercus alba). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting red-breasted nuthatches?
Nesting starts around April in Arizona and as late as June in Yukon. Have cover, water and nest boxes ready a month before.
Sources
- Red-breasted Nuthatch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-breasted Nuthatch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-breasted Nuthatch — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.