Nuthatchs in Germany
When the Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) is present in Germany, when it nests, and which native Germany plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Germany
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–June
- Size
- 14 cm, 23 g
- Nest box
- 32 mm hole
When to expect nuthatchs in Germany
The Nuthatch lives in Germany all year round. Colder in the east and south; feeders are widely used and garden-bird counts are a national tradition.
Temperate, becoming more continental towards the east and south, with Alpine climate in Bavaria.
Nesting in Germany
In Germany 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 Germany plants for nuthatchs
Of the native plants we track for Germany, 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.
Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Seed heads for Goldfinches and a nectar source for insects.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
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 Germany all year?
Yes — the Nuthatch is resident in Germany all year.
When do nuthatchs nest in Germany?
Typically April–June. Clutches are 6–8 eggs, incubated for 13–18 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help nuthatchs in Germany?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to Germany 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 Germany
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.