Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Nuthatches

I am linking up my Nuthatch post with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes


The Nuthatches are another one of my favorite birds to see. This irruptive winter I have the Red-Breasted Nuthatches visiting my feeders along side the White-Breasted Nuthatches.  The Nuthatch breeds mostly in mature spruce, fir and pine forest. They can often been seen at feeders.


The Red-Breasted Nuthatch has the white eyebrow or supercilium.

 The male above shows off his pretty reddish orange belly. The female has a more paler underparts.

 The White-Breasted Nuthatch is a pale blue above with the white breast/


 The Brown-headed Nuthatch can also been seen in the lower part of Maryland's Eastern shore. I have seen them often while hiking at Blackwater NWR in Cambridge, Maryland. They have also been seen further north and west of the Chesapeake bay  in Annapolis, Md.

To see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead and Happy Birding!


51 comments:

EG CameraGirl said...

Wonderful photos of the red- and white=breasted nuthatches, Eileen. I didn't know they like spruce trees. No wonder we have both nuthatches at our feeders! I learn a lot when I read your blog. :))

Sue said...

Fine photos of a sweet bird. We have both kinds here--though not many. So fun to watch their antics--I think they think they are quite clever going up AND down trees.

Leslie's Garden said...

Eileen, these are my very favorite birds! I just love the way they come down a tree head first! Such funny, adorable little birds. Ours in Georgia seem to have a stubbier tail than the ones you have. Mostly I have Titmice, Chicadees, Cardinals and Wrens at my feeders, so when a nuthatch comes, it's like finding a four leaf clover! Leslie

Kerri Farley said...

I LOVE the "bubble" sounds they make :)
Sweet little birdies!

Lynne said...

Something sleek about the Nuthatch. Reminds me . . . Fill the suet feeder. Fabulous pics . . .

Elizabeth Edwards said...

great shots. the parents have lots of feeders. fun to watch they are. i have to many squirrels. silly creatures. enjoy these so.

hey, i have a Christmas giveaway going on at my blog ... please be sure to stop by. have a great week. ( :

Penelope Postcards said...

I like the movement in these photos. The way these pictures were taken it seems as if the bird is doing a little dance along with having a meal. :)

Joe Todd said...

I'm off to buy some birdseed LOL

Dina said...

Cute shots of all the birds. I love the one of him hanging upside down on the feeder. I keep missing the rare red breasted sighting here.

Brightcetera said...

I love the Nuthatches too. I didn't have any at my feeders last year but this year the RB Nuthatches are making themselves at home again. I haven't had any WB Nuthatches in my year in several years but they are plentiful at the Nature Reserve where I go.
Do you make your own suet or do you use store bought?

vivi ka said...

Beautiful pictures!!
The female-bird is more beautiful than the male-bird :)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Eileen, How NEAT.... Wish we had the 'red' ones here. We have a gazooooo of white ones --but I've never seen a red one. Love it.

Hugs,
Betsy

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

i love those little nuthatches. they're so CUTE...but we don't have them here! you sure got some nice poses out of them!! terrific shots!

TexWisGirl said...

saw the title of your post and already knew i was gonna be jealous. :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful series of shots here, Eileen. Nuthatches have such sweet little faces :>)

Our Neck of the Woods said...

Beautiful birds! Such great photography, as always! Thanks for sharing with us today.

DIMI said...

Hallo Eileen!What a lovely bird!Great shots !!!Have a lovely week!
Dimi..

HappyK said...

As always you have some really great photos.

HansHB said...

Awesome serie of photos!

Montanagirl said...

Nice photos of the Nuthatches. They're so much fun to have around. I've seen both the red-breasted and white-breasted at our feeders this winter.

Beth said...

Eileen, You always capture such awesome bird photos! I love visiting. Merry Christmas!
Beth

Anonymous said...

Sweet birds Elaine pretty blue. I have never seen bird feeders like these very neat.
Keeps the sqirrels out I bet.

mick said...

Those are beautiful little birds. It must be fun to watch them at your feeder.

Leora said...

Your nuthatch looks like it's doing ballet - so graceful.

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Eileen,
Wow, what GORGEOUS shots of lovely sweet looking Nuthatch♡♡♡
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

Tammy said...

What great visitors you have! The 2nd to last shot is my favorite! Such a beauty! I have only seen Brown-headed Nuthatches in my neck of the woods.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Wonderful photos of the nuthatches! I've never seen a red breasted one. But have seen a white breasted one in my yard. He doesn't stay long enough for me to get a picture.

Maria said...

I've always liked their head movements.

Rohrerbot said...

I like these birds a lot. We have the 3 varieties here....the two you've mentioned and also the Pygmy. I have yet to find Red Breasted Nuthatch....:)

Carletta said...

Great shots Eileen!
I struggle to get them without it being a 'butt' shot. :)
Have a great week!

Stewart M said...

I very jealous that you get two types of nuthatch around your feeders - and woodpeckers as well!

The Grey Francolin was a lifer for me and if the truth be told I have not even heard of the bird before I got to Oman!

Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW - Stewart M - Melbourne

Vores have said...

Great pictures / collages showing the nuthatch.
Hanne Bente

Neil said...

Beautiful looking birds.

i stora drag said...

Very good photos of the nuthutchers, Eileen! We also have the red-breasted one here in my garden in Sweden and I find the bird very amusing! :)
Greetings Pia

Friend of HK said...

Very pretty birds. I haven't seen any Nuthatches in Hong Kong. Nice photos.

Anonymous said...

What beautiful photos of the lovely bird, in varied stages of getting at the suet.

Crafty Green Poet said...

lovely to see the two species of nuthatches together!

Icy BC said...

You've captured them well, and they are beautiful photos!

DeniseinVA said...

I love these photos, nuthatches are one of my favorite birds though I can't imagine how they eat upside down :)

Wally Jones said...

Wonderful pictures of both Nuthatches! I've been chasing the Red-breasted irruption around here for a couple of weeks and I always hear: "You should have been here yesterday, they were everywhere!"

Sigh. --Wally (FL)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful captures of these delightful little birds!

NatureFootstep said...

when I see those nuthatches I always wonder why they don´t get sour necks. :) Nice shots Eileen. :)

Bob Bushell said...

Well, you taught me one thing, supercilium, I wont forget it. Fantastic photos too.

Carver said...

These are fantastic shots of the nuthatches. I have quite a few of them in my backyard and I enjoy watching them although they are often too fast for me to photograph.

Anonymous said...

Love little Nuthatches, I haven't seen one in my yard in a few years..

Debbie said...

they are the sweetest little bird and so fun to watch!!

i have the red breasted varity for the first time this year!!

great captures, mine favor the suet as well!!

Red Nomad OZ said...

Well, they certainly don't seem to be suffering from vertigo!!! Great shots - with that display in your backyard, I'm surprised you have time for anything else!!!

Rambling Woods said...

Oh love these friendly little guys. Now that they have stopped caching food, my feeders don't empty as fast. Cute..cute..cute... Michelle

Larry said...

Great shots of the Nuthatches Eileen! Having just gotten Red-breasted Nuthatches to my feeders for the first time I am amazed at how much more tame they seem to be than the White-breasted variety. I love these guys. The White-breasted Nuthatches have used my bluebird houses in the past but I would be surprised if the Red-breasted Nuthatches stick around.

Reena said...

So love your nuthatches! They are so active right now!

Dave said...

Great comparison, both lovely species

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