Sitta pygmaea

Pine forest and woodland, especially ponderosa pine, less frequently pinyon-juniper (AOU 1983). At night may roost in groups in tree cavities. For the Pacific Northwest, U.S. Forest Service et al. (1993) recommended maintaining adequate numbers (around 0.6/acre) of large snags (over 15-20 inches dbh, if possible) and green tree replacements for future snags (can be left in groups to reduce blowdown), in stands of ponderosa pine. Breeding pair digs a hole in dead wood, or uses an abandoned woodpecker hole. Nest hole is usually 2.5-18 m above ground. May be limited by nest site availability. In northern Arizona, breeding density was increased from 4-19 breeding pairs per 40 ha to 9-30 pairs after nest boxes were added (Brawn and Balda 1988). See Mitchell (1988) for specifications for the construction and placement of nest boxes.

Often found in association with yellow-rumped warbler, plain titmouse, or mountain chickadee. Social throughout year. Travels in small family groups after nesting season. Family groups form larger loose flocks in fall and winter. Winter groups average 5-15 individuals; forage as a flock and roost communally within group territory (Sydeman et al. 1988).

Clutch size is 4-9 (usually 6-8). Incubation, by female, lasts 15.5-16 days. Nestlings are altricial. Young leave nest at 22 days (Terres 1980). Cooperative breeding has been documented in California and Arizona; breeding units consisted of 2-5 birds; helpers (mostly yearlings, and offspring or siblings of the birds they aided) were found at about 30% of all nests in northern Arizona; nests with helpers sometimes more productive than those without helpers (Sydeman et al. 1988).