White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis
STANFORD LOCATIONS:

Common resident in oak-dominated areas throughout campus, only occasionally occurring away from oaks. Nests in natural cavities and old woodpecker holes.
  
Nest
Location
Nest
Type
Eggs
Mating System
Dev.
Parental Care
Primary &
2ndary Diet
Foraging
Strategy
F
I: 12 DAYS
ALTRICIAL
10 feet - 60 feet
(3 feet - 60 feet)
F -M
5-8
(3-10)
MONOG
F: 14 DAYS
MF
BREEDING: Decid (esp), mixed decid-conif forest, woodland, forest edge, occ conif forest; prefers mature stands with decaying large trees. 1? brood.
DISPLAYS: Courting male carries food to female, performs bowing and singing ritual with head feathers raised, tail spread.
NEST: In natural cavity or deserted woodpecker hole; bed of soft bark shreds, hair, feathers.
EGGS: White to pinkish-white, usu heavily marked with reddish-brown, esp at large end. 0.8" (19 mm).
DIET: Includes spiders; in winter takes many acorns, nuts. Young may be fed 100% animal food.
CONSERVATION: Winter resident. Rare cowbird host.
NOTES: Pairs maintain feeding territories throughout year. Within pairs, males always dominant over females, e.g., in gaining access to food. In winter, roost singly in cavity; occ join mixed foraging flocks with Brown Creepers, chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers.
ESSAYS: Bird Guilds; Mixed-Species Flocking; Territoriality; Courtship Feeding.
REFERENCES: Kilham, 1972; Waite, 1987a.

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Except for Stanford Locations, the material in this species treatment is taken, with permission, from The Birder's Handbook (Paul Ehrlich, David Dobkin, & Darryl Wheye, Simon & Schuster, NY. 1988).