Illinois · Winter visitor

Red-breasted Nuthatchs in Illinois

When red-breasted nuthatches are present in Illinois, when they nest, which native Illinois plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–7b yard.

Nuthatches (Sittidae)Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis

Status in Illinois: Winter visitor
Nesting window: Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones: USDA 5a–7b

When to expect red-breasted nuthatches in Illinois

In Illinois, red-breasted nuthatches are winter visitors rather than breeders. Cold, windy winters in the north; the southern tip is milder and hosts more wintering species. While here they rely on spruce, fir and pine seeds.

Humid continental, grading from the Lake Michigan shore and prairie north to the forested Shawnee Hills in the south.

Native Illinois plants that attract red-breasted nuthatches

Of the regional native plants we track for Illinois, these 8 provide food or cover red-breasted nuthatches use:

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum · Shrub

Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.

Feeding red-breasted nuthatches through the Illinois year

Irrupts south in poor cone years; smears sap around its nest hole to deter predators.

Best foods: Black-oil sunflower, Suet, Peanut hearts.
In Illinois's winter: Cold, windy winters in the north; the southern tip is milder and hosts more wintering species.

Full diet breakdown for red-breasted nuthatches · Best feeder for red-breasted nuthatches

Frequently asked

Are red-breasted nuthatches in Illinois year-round?

No. Red-breasted Nuthatchs are winter visitors in Illinois and do not typically nest there.

What native plants attract red-breasted nuthatches in Illinois?

Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum are native plants in Illinois that provide food or cover for red-breasted nuthatches.

Other backyard birds in Illinois

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Eurasian Collared-Dove

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.