Nuthatchs in Italy
When the Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) is present in Italy, when it nests, and which native Italy plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Italy
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- March–June
- Size
- 14 cm, 23 g
- Nest box
- 32 mm hole
When to expect nuthatchs in Italy
The Nuthatch lives in Italy all year round. Mild in the south; cold, foggy winters in the Po Valley.
Mediterranean on the coasts and south, continental in the Po Valley and Alpine in the north.
Nesting in Italy
In Italy the Nuthatch usually nests March–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 Italy plants for nuthatchs
Of the native plants we track for Italy, 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 Italy all year?
Yes — the Nuthatch is resident in Italy all year.
When do nuthatchs nest in Italy?
Typically March–June. Clutches are 6–8 eggs, incubated for 13–18 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help nuthatchs in Italy?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to Italy 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 Italy
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.