Cavity-Nesting Birds of North American Forests: Agriculture Handbook 511Scott, Virgil E.
Science
Cavity-Nesting Birds of North American Forests: Agriculture Handbook 511
Scott, Virgil E.
Birds -- Nests; Birds -- North America; Cavity-nesting birds -- North America; Forest birds -- North America
Food: No published information was found, but the diet is probably
similar to that of other members of this genus. All live in similar
habitats and spend much of their time foraging in crevices in the bark,
on the trunks, and on branches, presumably hunting for adults, larvae,
and eggs of insects (Bent 1946).
White-breasted nuthatch
_Sitta carolinensis_
L 5″
[Illustration]
Habitat: White-breasted nuthatches are non-migratory in most forest
types in the United States. They show a preference for deciduous
woodlands. In the Rocky Mountains, they occur most commonly below 9,500
feet elevation (Bailey and Niedrach 1965).
Nest: White-breasted nuthatches nest almost exclusively in natural
cavities within living trees of mature forests. When natural cavities
are unavailable, they may use an abandoned woodpecker hole (Kilham
1968b). In the West, nests have been found in dead aspens and dead
portions (lightning strikes) of live ponderosa pines (Bailey and
Niedrach 1965, Scott and Patton 1975). Nests are lined with hair and
feathers and are often used for more than 1 year.
Food: A myriad of insects, including larvae of the gypsy moth and the
forest tent caterpillar, beetles, spiders, caterpillars, and ants
comprise the main diet of white-breasted nuthatches throughout the
spring and summer. In the winter, nearly all food eaten is mast composed
of beechnuts, acorns, hickory nuts, maize and sunflower seeds (Bent
1948). Among the insect foods are several other forest pests including
nut weevils, locust seed weevils, and roundheaded woodborers (Scott and
Patton 1975). Nuthatches may also be attracted to feeders with suet and
sunflower seeds.
Red-breasted nuthatch
_Sitta canadensis_
L 4″
[Illustration]
Habitat: Red-breasted nuthatches nest throughout the high elevations of
the Rocky Mountains and in the Canadian boreal forests. They are erratic
winter migrants to the eastern forest types. In Colorado, their
preferred habitat is the coniferous-aspen type from the Canadian Life
Zone to timberline.
Nest: Red-breasted nuthatches will excavate their own cavity if a
natural cavity or woodpecker hole is not available or to their liking
(de Kiriline 1952). Nests are usually 6 to 40 feet above the ground in
rotten stubs or branches of dead trees. Nests have been reported in
birch, poplar, cottonwood, oak, and pine. Nests usually are not lined,
in contrast to those of white-breasted nuthatches.
Food: Little is known of the food taken by red-breasted nuthatches. They
feed on seeds of pine, spruce, and other coniferous trees. The animal
food is known to include beetles, hymenoptera, spiders, and ribbed pine
borers. They sometimes feed on flying insects (Bent 1948). Birds will
visit feeders offering suet during the winter.
Brown-headed nuthatch
_Sitta pusilla_
L 3½″
[Illustration]
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