Nuthatchs in Austria
When the Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) is present in Austria, when it nests, and which native Austria plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Austria
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–June
- Size
- 14 cm, 23 g
- Nest box
- 32 mm hole
When to expect nuthatchs in Austria
The Nuthatch lives in Austria all year round. Cold, snowy winters, especially at altitude.
Continental and Alpine; most of the country is mountainous.
Nesting in Austria
In Austria the Nuthatch usually nests April–June. Nest site: tree hole or box; entrance plastered with mud. Clutches are 6–8 eggs, incubated for 13–18 days; chicks fledge after 20–26 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.
- Nest box: 32 mm hole. Put boxes up by February and clean them out between September and January.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Austria plants for nuthatchs
Of the native plants we track for Austria, these 8 provide food the Nuthatch uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Windfalls sustain thrushes and Fieldfares into winter.
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
Feeding in the garden
Insects, hazelnuts and seeds.
- Best foods: Peanuts, Sunflower hearts, Suet.
- Feeders: Peanut mesh, Suet cage.
- Plasters mud around nest-box holes to make them the right size.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are nuthatchs in Austria all year?
Yes — the Nuthatch is resident in Austria all year.
When do nuthatchs nest in Austria?
Typically April–June. Clutches are 6–8 eggs, incubated for 13–18 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help nuthatchs in Austria?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple, Silver birch are native to Austria and provide food or cover the Nuthatch uses.
What nest box does the Nuthatch use?
32 mm hole.
Nuthatchs in other countries
Other garden birds in Austria
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.