Maine · Year-round resident

White-breasted Nuthatchs in Maine

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

Photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons

Status in Maine: Year-round resident
Nesting window: May–June
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3b–6b
Nest box: 1 1/4 in round hole, 4 × 4 in floor, 5–20 ft

When to expect white-breasted nuthatches in Maine

White-breasted Nuthatchs live in Maine all year. Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward acorns, hickory nuts and seeds; sunflower, peanuts and suet at feeders.

Humid continental with a long, rocky Atlantic coast and extensive northern spruce-fir forest.

Nesting in Maine

Across Maine, white-breasted nuthatches typically nest from May–June. Nest site: natural cavities in large trees; occasionally nest boxes. Females lay 5–9 eggs, incubate for 13–14 days, and young leave the nest after 18–26 days.

Cool, short summers; many songbirds do not begin nesting until late May.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — white-breasted nuthatches begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
Use a 1 1/4 in round entrance on a 4 × 4 in floor, mounted 5–20 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 Maine plants that attract white-breasted nuthatches

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

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.

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 white-breasted nuthatches through the Maine year

Nuthatches grab a seed, fly to a crevice, and hammer it open — so feeders near mature, rough-barked trees get more visits.

Best foods: Black-oil sunflower, Shelled peanuts, Suet.
In Maine's winter: Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years.

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

Frequently asked

Are white-breasted nuthatches in Maine year-round?

Yes. White-breasted Nuthatchs are year-round residents in Maine.

When do white-breasted nuthatches nest in Maine?

Nesting in Maine typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 5–9 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days.

What native plants attract white-breasted nuthatches in Maine?

Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Maine that provide food or cover for white-breasted nuthatches.

What size birdhouse hole do white-breasted nuthatches need?

1 1/4 in round, with a floor of 4 × 4 in mounted 5–20 ft.

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.