Wisconsin · Year-round resident

Red-breasted Nuthatchs in Wisconsin

When red-breasted nuthatches are present in Wisconsin, when they nest, which native Wisconsin plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6a yard.

Nuthatches (Sittidae)Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis

Status in Wisconsin: 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 Wisconsin

Red-breasted Nuthatchs live in Wisconsin all year. Cold, snowy winters; boreal finches visit the north. 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 two Great Lakes shorelines, northern forest and southern prairie-oak savanna.

Nesting in Wisconsin

Across Wisconsin, 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.

Warm, humid summers.

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 Wisconsin plants that attract red-breasted nuthatches

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

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.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Feeding red-breasted nuthatches through the Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin's winter: Cold, snowy winters; boreal finches visit the north.

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

Frequently asked

Are red-breasted nuthatches in Wisconsin year-round?

Yes. Red-breasted Nuthatchs are year-round residents in Wisconsin.

When do red-breasted nuthatches nest in Wisconsin?

Nesting in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?

Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Wisconsin 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.

Other backyard birds in Wisconsin

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped 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 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 Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Canada Jay 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.