Botanical Glossary - Home

The Red-breasted Nuthatch is small with a broad black line through the eye and a white line above. It's about 4 1/2 inches long with a short tail and a disposition of a Wren Tit, quickly moving from branch to branch, hardly stopping to nibble bark insects, seeds and nuts. Of the 22 species of Nuthatch world wide, there are 3 varieties in the west. The underparts are a wishy-washy rust color and the females cheeks are off-white, while the males are slightly darker. This little creature can be seen in Alaska, Canada and the western USA. They tend to migrate to northwestern Mexico, but sometimes will overwinter in warmer northern regions in the shelter of trees and may visit local feeders.