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Home/Species/ White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

Latham, 1790

White-breasted Nuthatch

G5Secure Found in 308 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105632
Element CodeABPAZ01020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilySittidae
GenusSitta
Other Common Names
Sita Pecho Blanco (ES) Sittelle à poitrine blanche (FR) white-breasted nuthatch (EN)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Differences exist between Pacific Coast, interior, montane, and eastern populations that may revise species limits (AOU 1998). Wood (1992) examined color and size variation and concluded that all populations east of the Great Plains should be considered one subspecies, S. C. carolinensis.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-09
Change Date1996-12-02
Range Extent Comments
Resident from Washington and southern British Columbia to southern Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, south to Baja California, southeastern Arizona, southern Mexican highlands, Gulf Coast, and northern Florida; absent from most of Great Plains.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

See Wood (1992) for information on identification of sexes in eastern North America (females most closely resemble males in the southeastern U.S., but all can identified correctly in the hand).

Habitat

Most frequent in open woodlands of mature trees (primarily oak or pine); pinyon-juniper, clearings, forest edge, parks, and partly open situations with scattered trees (AOU 1983). Nests in natural tree cavity, old woodpecker hole, bird house, usually about 5-15 m above ground.

Ecology

Forages in mated pairs; maintains year-round territory. Resident pairs stayed together on feeding territory of 10-20 ha throughout year in one study (Terres 1980). 3-16 breeding pairs per 40 ha in northern Arizona forest (Brawn and Balda 1988).

Reproduction

Clutch size is 5-10 (commonly 8). Incubation, by female, lasts about 12 days? Young are tended by both parents, leave nest at about 14 days, fed by parents for another 2 weeks.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
New BrunswickS4Yes
AlbertaS4Yes
QuebecS5Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
Prince Edward IslandS1Yes
OntarioS5Yes
Nova ScotiaS4Yes
SaskatchewanS5Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
West VirginiaS5B,S5NYes
ArizonaS5Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
ArkansasS4Yes
FloridaS2Yes
UtahS3Yes
OregonS4Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
WisconsinS5BYes
KansasS5Yes
New YorkS5Yes
ColoradoS5B,S4NYes
New MexicoS5B,S5NYes
New JerseyS4B,S4NYes
New HampshireS5Yes
ConnecticutS5Yes
MississippiS4BYes
South DakotaS5B,S5NYes
WashingtonS4Yes
AlabamaS5Yes
PennsylvaniaS5BYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
WyomingS5B,S5NYes
IllinoisS5Yes
DelawareS3Yes
MissouriSNRYes
GeorgiaS4Yes
OhioS5Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
Rhode IslandS5BYes
MichiganS5Yes
IdahoS4Yes
District of ColumbiaS3B,S3NYes
TexasS3BYes
MontanaS4Yes
MassachusettsS5Yes
MarylandS5Yes
NebraskaS5Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
IndianaS4Yes
NevadaS5Yes
VermontS5B,S5NYes
South CarolinaS4Yes
TennesseeS5Yes
MaineS5Yes
LouisianaS3Yes
North CarolinaS5B,S5NYes
IowaS5BYes
Navajo NationS5Yes
Roadless Areas (308)
Arizona (25)
AreaForestAcres
Big RidgeKaibab National Forest9,087
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Blind Indian CreekPrescott National Forest26,847
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Burro CanyonKaibab National Forest19,928
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
East Clear CreekCoconino National Forest1,613
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Hell HoleApache-Sitgreaves National Forests15,512
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
Hot AirApache-Sitgreaves National Forests31,712
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
PipestemApache-Sitgreaves National Forests34,598
Red PointKaibab National Forest7,139
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
Willis CanyonKaibab National Forest9,688
Arkansas (2)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainOuachita National Forest9,755
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
California (118)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Bald MountainTahoe National Forest5,832
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Birch CreekInyo National Forest28,816
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Boundary Peak (CA)Inyo National Forest210,884
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
Chalk PeakLos Padres National Forest7,472
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
De La GuerraLos Padres National Forest5,418
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Dexter CanyonInyo National Forest17,053
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
EbbettsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest255
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
JuncalLos Padres National Forest12,289
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
ManzanaLos Padres National Forest2,101
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
MonoLos Padres National Forest28,141
Mono CratersInyo National Forest7,115
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
Oat Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,223
Onion SpringsLassen National Forest2,421
ParsnipModoc National Forest8,485
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Robinson PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,835
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
Rose - IcelandHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,171
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
RubiconEldorado National Forest4,872
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
SherwinInyo National Forest3,140
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
Soldier CanyonInyo National Forest40,589
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
Timbered CraterLassen National Forest4,096
Tioga LakeInyo National Forest829
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
Trail LakeLassen National Forest1,124
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Colorado (3)
AreaForestAcres
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Long ParkRoutt NF42,100
Georgia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Idaho (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
Peace RockBoise National Forest191,734
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
Missouri (1)
AreaForestAcres
Swan Creek Rare II Study AreaMark Twain National Forest7,310
Montana (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanHelena National Forest51,360
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
HoodooLolo National Forest105,162
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Nevada (17)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Charleston - CarpenterHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest17,828
Charleston - Macks CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,378
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Rose - Alum CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest853
Rose - Dutch LouieHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest363
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Rose - SummitHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Ruby - ThompsonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,289
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
Snake - ChokecherryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest30,845
Snake - HatcheryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,627
Snake - MurphyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,064
New Hampshire (7)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
KearsargeWhite Mountain National Forest4,554
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest11,846
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
New Mexico (40)
AreaForestAcres
Alamo CanyonSanta Fe National Forest8,639
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
Arroyo de los FrijolesSanta Fe National Forest5,277
Aspen MountainGila National Forest23,784
Black CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,922
Bull CanyonCarson National Forest11,512
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Cruces BasinCarson National Forest5,244
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
GallinasSanta Fe National Forest13,208
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Grass MountainSanta Fe National Forest3,254
Hell HoleGila National Forest19,553
Juan de Gabaldon GrantSanta Fe National Forest8,023
Latir PeakCarson National Forest3,573
Little Dog And Pup CanyonsLincoln National Forest25,412
Little TesuqueSanta Fe National Forest815
McClure ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest375
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Mother HubbardGila National Forest5,895
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
NolanGila National Forest13,051
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
Pecos WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest5,396
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
San JoseCibola National Forest16,950
San Pedro ParksSanta Fe National Forest5,824
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Tesuque CreekSanta Fe National Forest810
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
Virgin CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,068
Wagon TongueGila National Forest11,411
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
Wheeler Peak WildernessCarson National Forest2,677
North Carolina (4)
AreaForestAcres
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
North Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
Oregon (11)
AreaForestAcres
Bend WatershedDeschutes National Forest14,829
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Joseph CanyonWallowa-Whitman National Forest24,288
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
Mcclellan MountainMalheur National Forest21,213
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
W - T ThreeUmatilla National Forest1,705
Pennsylvania (2)
AreaForestAcres
Allegheny FrontAllegheny National Forest7,430
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Tennessee (3)
AreaForestAcres
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Sycamore CreekCherokee National Forest6,984
Texas (3)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Big WoodsNational Forests in Texas1,320
Little Lake CreekNational Forests in Texas596
Utah (20)
AreaForestAcres
0401001Ashley National Forest11,705
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
418014Uinta National Forest9,683
418015Uinta National Forest17,289
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418026Uinta National Forest14,038
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
Boulder Mtn. / Boulder Top / Deer LakeDixie National Forest110,690
Casto BluffDixie National Forest87,466
Cove MountainDixie National Forest16,632
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
Hog RanchDixie National Forest17,130
Kane MountainDixie National Forest8,013
Lava BedsDixie National Forest14,944
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Red Canyon NorthDixie National Forest9,973
Shakespeare PointDixie National Forest753
Table Cliffs - Henderson CanyonDixie National Forest19,581
Vermont (1)
AreaForestAcres
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Virginia (16)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Brush Mountain EastJefferson National Forest4,916
Garden MountainJefferson National Forest3,960
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Shawvers Run AdditionJefferson National Forest1,927
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
Washington (6)
AreaForestAcres
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
Devils GulchWenatchee National Forest24,419
Meadow CreekUmatilla National Forest4,882
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
SpanglerUmatilla National Forest5,936
West Virginia (11)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
Mottesheard (WV)Jefferson National Forest3,964
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
Wyoming (3)
AreaForestAcres
0401021Ashley National Forest5,152
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
References (22)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  3. Balda, R. P., and G. C. Bateman. 1971. Flocking and annual cycle of the piñon jay, <i>Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus</i>. Condor 73:287-302.
  4. Bent, A.C. 1948. Life histories of North American nuthatches, wrens, thrashers, and their allies. U.S. National Museum Bulletin 195. Washington, DC.
  5. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  6. Brawn, J. D., and R. P. Balda. 1988. Population biology of cavity nesters in northern Arizona: do nest sites limit breeding densities? Condor 90:61-71.
  7. Droege, S., and J.R. Sauer. 1990. North American Breeding Bird Survey, annual summary, 1989. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 90(8). 22 pp.
  8. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  9. Harrison, H. H. 1979. A field guide to western birds' nests. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 279 pp.
  10. Horn, H. S. 1968. The adaptive significance of colonial nesting in the Brewer's Blackbird. Ecology 49:682-694.
  11. Ligon, J. D. 1971. Late summer-autumnal breeding of the piñon jay in New Mexico. Condor 73:147-153.
  12. Mitchell, W. A. 1988. Songbird nest boxes. Section 5.1.8, US Army Corps of Engineers Wildlife Resources Management Manual. Tech. Rep. EL-88-19. Waterways Expt. Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. 48 pp.
  13. Moore, W. S., and R. A. Dolbeer. 1989. The use of banding recovery data to estimate dispersal rates and gene flow in avian species: case studies in the Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle. Condor 91:242-253.
  14. National Geographic Society (NGS). 1983. Field guide to the birds of North America. National Geographic Society, Washington, DC.
  15. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  16. Poole, A. F. and F. B. Gill. 1992. The birds of North America. The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
  17. Tarvin, K. A., and G. E. Woolfenden. 1999. Blue Jay (<i>Cyanocitta cristata</i>). No. 469 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  18. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  19. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
  20. Williams, L. 1952b. Breeding behavior of the Brewer blackbird. Condor 54:3-47.
  21. Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.
  22. Wood, D. S. 1992b. Color and size variation in eastern white-breasted nuthatches. Wilson Bull. 104:599-611.