How long do red-breasted nuthatches live?
The oldest Red-breasted Nuthatch on record lived to 7.5 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild red-breasted nuthatches live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 7.5 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 5–8 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 4.3 in, 0.3–0.5 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 3 of 5
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Red-breasted Nuthatch can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Red-breasted nuthatches usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 5–8 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 12–13 days to hatch.
How red-breasted nuthatches compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other nuthatches on this site.
- White-breasted Nuthatch9.8 years
- Pygmy Nuthatch8.2 years
- Brown-headed Nuthatch5.8 years
- Brown-headed Nuthatch5.8 years
More about red-breasted nuthatches
Frequently asked
How long do red-breasted nuthatches live?
The longest-lived Red-breasted Nuthatch on record reached 7.5 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild red-breasted nuthatches live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Red-breasted Nuthatch when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Red-breasted Nuthatch ever recorded?
7.5 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Red-breasted Nuthatch raise in a year?
Pairs lay 5–8 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "small". genomics.senescence.info