Red-breasted Nuthatchs in New Hampshire
When red-breasted nuthatches are present in New Hampshire, when they nest, which native New Hampshire plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6a yard.
- Status in New Hampshire
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6a
- Nest box
- 1 1/4 in hole, 4 × 4 in floor, 5–15 ft
When to expect red-breasted nuthatches in New Hampshire
Red-breasted Nuthatchs live in New Hampshire all year. Long, snowy winters; boreal species visit feeders in irruption years. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward spruce, fir and pine seeds.
Humid continental, with the White Mountains dividing the southern lowlands from northern forest.
Nesting in New Hampshire
Across New Hampshire, red-breasted nuthatches typically nest from June. Nest site: excavated cavity in soft dead conifers or aspens; uses boxes. Females lay 5–8 eggs, incubate for 12–13 days, and young leave the nest after 18–21 days.
Mild summers; nesting starts late May.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before May — red-breasted nuthatches begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 1 1/4 in entrance on a 4 × 4 in floor, mounted 5–15 ft.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after June.
Native New Hampshire plants that attract red-breasted nuthatches
Of the regional native plants we track for New Hampshire, these 8 provide food or cover red-breasted nuthatches use:
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding red-breasted nuthatches through the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire's winter: Long, snowy winters; boreal species visit feeders in irruption years.
Full diet breakdown for red-breasted nuthatches · Best feeder for red-breasted nuthatches
Frequently asked
Are red-breasted nuthatches in New Hampshire year-round?
Yes. Red-breasted Nuthatchs are year-round residents in New Hampshire.
When do red-breasted nuthatches nest in New Hampshire?
Nesting in New Hampshire typically runs June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days.
What native plants attract red-breasted nuthatches in New Hampshire?
Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in New Hampshire that provide food or cover for red-breasted nuthatches.
What size birdhouse hole do red-breasted nuthatches need?
1 1/4 in, with a floor of 4 × 4 in mounted 5–15 ft.
Red-breasted Nuthatchs in other regions
Other backyard birds in New Hampshire
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
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New Hampshire
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.