Nuthatchs in Finland
When the Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) is present in Finland, when it nests, and which native Finland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Finland
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- May–June
- Size
- 14 cm, 23 g
- Nest box
- 32 mm hole
When to expect nuthatchs in Finland
The Nuthatch lives in Finland all year round. Long, dark, snowy winters; feeding is a widespread national habit.
Boreal continental, forested and lake-strewn.
Nesting in Finland
In Finland the Nuthatch usually nests May–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 Finland plants for nuthatchs
Of the native plants we track for Finland, these 8 provide food the Nuthatch uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
Cones hold seed that Siskins and Goldfinches feed on all winter.
Hazelnuts for Nuthatches, Jays and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Pine seed for Coal Tits, Crested Tits and Crossbills.
Cone seed for Siskins and Coal Tits; Goldcrest nesting habitat.
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 Finland all year?
Yes — the Nuthatch is resident in Finland all year.
When do nuthatchs nest in Finland?
Typically May–June. Clutches are 6–8 eggs, incubated for 13–18 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help nuthatchs in Finland?
Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Bramble, Silver birch, Alder, Hazel, Scots pine, Norway spruce are native to Finland 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 Finland
Sources
- Nuthatch — RSPB bird guide
- Nuthatch — BTO BirdFacts
- Finnish Bird Atlas — Finnish Museum of Natural History
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.