Perch Supply
Nuthatches (Sittidae)

White-breasted Nuthatch

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

White-breasted Nuthatch climbing head-down on bark
Photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons
Scientific name
Sitta carolinensis
Length
5.1–5.5 in
Weight
0.6–1.1 oz
Nest
Natural cavities in large trees; occasionally nest boxes
Entrance hole
1 1/4 in round
Clutch
5–9 eggs
Incubation
13–14 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • Blue-grey back, white face and breast, black (male) or grey (female) cap
  • Chestnut wash under the tail
  • Climbs head-first down trunks

Voice

Nasal "yank" calls; song is a rapid, even series of "wha-wha-wha" notes.

Diet and feeding

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

What do white-breasted nuthatches eat? · Best feeder for white-breasted nuthatches

White-breasted Nuthatchs by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaYear-round residentMarch–June
AlbertaYear-round residentMay–June
ArizonaYear-round residentMarch–June
ArkansasYear-round residentApril–June
British ColumbiaYear-round residentMay–June
CaliforniaYear-round residentMarch–June
ColoradoYear-round residentApril–June
ConnecticutYear-round residentApril–June
DelawareYear-round residentApril–June
FloridaYear-round residentMarch–May
GeorgiaYear-round residentMarch–June
IdahoYear-round residentApril–June
IllinoisYear-round residentApril–June
IndianaYear-round residentApril–June
IowaYear-round residentApril–June
KansasYear-round residentApril–June
KentuckyYear-round residentApril–June
LouisianaYear-round residentMarch–June
MaineYear-round residentMay–June
ManitobaYear-round residentMay–June
MarylandYear-round residentApril–June
MassachusettsYear-round residentApril–June
MichiganYear-round residentApril–June
MinnesotaYear-round residentApril–June
MississippiYear-round residentMarch–June
MissouriYear-round residentApril–June
MontanaYear-round residentMay–June
NebraskaYear-round residentApril–June
NevadaYear-round residentApril–June
New BrunswickYear-round residentMay–June
New HampshireYear-round residentMay–June
New JerseyYear-round residentApril–June
New MexicoYear-round residentApril–June
New YorkYear-round residentApril–June
North CarolinaYear-round residentMarch–June
North DakotaYear-round residentMay–June
Nova ScotiaYear-round residentApril–June
OhioYear-round residentApril–June
OklahomaYear-round residentApril–June
OntarioYear-round residentApril–June
OregonYear-round residentApril–June
PennsylvaniaYear-round residentApril–June
Prince Edward IslandYear-round residentMay–June
QuebecYear-round residentMay–June
Rhode IslandYear-round residentApril–June
SaskatchewanYear-round residentMay–June
South CarolinaYear-round residentMarch–June
South DakotaYear-round residentApril–June
TennesseeYear-round residentApril–June
TexasYear-round residentMarch–June
UtahYear-round residentApril–June
VermontYear-round residentMay–June
VirginiaYear-round residentApril–June
WashingtonYear-round residentApril–June
West VirginiaYear-round residentApril–June
WisconsinYear-round residentMay–June
WyomingYear-round residentMay–June

Frequently asked

What do white-breasted nuthatches eat?

Insects and spiders from bark; large seeds and nuts, which they wedge and hack open. At feeders: black-oil sunflower, shelled peanuts, suet.

How big is a White-breasted Nuthatch?

5.1–5.5 in long and 0.6–1.1 oz.

Do white-breasted nuthatches use birdhouses?

Yes — a 1 1/4 in round entrance, 4 × 4 in floor, mounted 5–20 ft.

Sources

  1. White-breasted Nuthatch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. White-breasted Nuthatch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. White-breasted Nuthatch — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab

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.