Attract this bird

How to attract white-breasted nuthatches to your yard

White-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 57 states and provinces.

Photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons

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 White-breasted Nuthatch is a year-round resident in 57 states and provinces, including Alabama, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, California and 51 more — there, a yard can host it in every season.

See the White-breasted Nuthatch in your state →

Plant what white-breasted nuthatches use

These native plants are tied to the White-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	44	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.
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.
Spicebush Lindera benzoin	Shrub	30	Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa	Tree	29	Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum	Shrub	28	Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae	Perennial	27	Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima	Perennial	27	Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, tree, perennial). Layering matters: mixing shrub, tree, perennial gives white-breasted nuthatches food, perches and cover at different heights. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.

Offer the food it actually eats

Insects and spiders from bark; large seeds and nuts, which they wedge and hack open.

Warm months: Weevils, beetle larvae and caterpillars; Ants and spiders
Cold months: Acorns, hickory nuts and seeds; Sunflower, peanuts and suet at feeders
At feeders: Black-oil sunflower, Shelled peanuts, Suet

Feeder style matters as much as food: suet or peanut feeder is the first choice for this bird. Nuthatches grab a seed, fly to a crevice, and hammer it open — so feeders near mature, rough-barked trees get more visits. Feeder guide →

Full seasonal diet →

Give it a place to nest

Natural site: Natural cavities in large trees; occasionally nest boxes.

The White-breasted Nuthatch uses nest boxes with a 1 1/4 in round entrance, mounted 5–20 ft. Exact box dimensions →

Clutch: 5–9 eggs
Incubation: 13–14 days
Nestling period: 18–26 days
Broods per year: 1 per season

Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around March in Alabama but not until May in Wyoming. 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 white-breasted nuthatches to a yard?

Food they actually eat (black-oil sunflower, shelled peanuts, suet), native plants such as American elderberry, Black cherry, Serviceberry, clean water and suitable nesting cover: natural cavities in large trees; occasionally nest boxes.

What plants attract white-breasted nuthatches?

Across the White-breasted Nuthatch's range, the native plants most often tied to it are American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Black cherry (Prunus serotina), Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), White oak (Quercus alba), Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Choose the ones native to your state.

When should I set up my yard for nesting white-breasted nuthatches?

Nesting starts around March in Alabama and as late as May in Wyoming. Have cover, water and nest boxes ready a month before.

Sources

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.