Sitta pygmaea

Vigors, 1839

Pygmy Nuthatch

G5Secure Found in 120 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100063
Element CodeABPAZ01030
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
pygmy nuthatch (EN) Sita Enana (ES) Sittelle pygmée (FR)
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/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-09
Change Date1996-12-02
Range Extent Comments
RESIDENT: southern interior British Columbia, northern Idaho, western Montana, central Wyoming and southwstern South Dakota south to northern Baja California, southern Nevada, central and southeastern Arizona, central New Mexico, extreme western Texas and extreme western Oklahoma, south in mountains to cental Mexico (AOU 1983). To elevations of 3000 m.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

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.

Ecology

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).

Reproduction

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).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferWoodland - Conifer
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
NebraskaS3Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
South DakotaS1Yes
TexasS3BYes
ArizonaS5Yes
WashingtonS3Yes
NevadaS4Yes
WyomingS2Yes
New MexicoS3B,S3NYes
Navajo NationS5Yes
IdahoS4Yes
OregonS4Yes
MontanaS4Yes
UtahS3Yes
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS4Yes
Roadless Areas (120)
Arizona (11)
AreaForestAcres
Big RidgeKaibab National Forest9,087
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
Coconino RimKaibab National Forest7,213
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
Red PointKaibab National Forest7,139
Willis CanyonKaibab National Forest9,688
California (42)
AreaForestAcres
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Birch CreekInyo National Forest28,816
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
Boundary Peak (CA)Inyo National Forest210,884
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
Chalk PeakLos Padres National Forest7,472
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
Damon ButteModoc National Forest25,022
De La GuerraLos Padres National Forest5,418
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Heartbreak RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest4,455
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
ParsnipModoc National Forest8,485
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Robinson PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,835
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
Trail LakeLassen National Forest1,124
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
Colorado (2)
AreaForestAcres
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Idaho (2)
AreaForestAcres
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
Montana (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
HoodooLolo National Forest105,162
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
Nevada (6)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Angel Peak SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,540
Charleston - Macks CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,378
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
New Mexico (28)
AreaForestAcres
Alamo CanyonSanta Fe National Forest8,639
Black CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,922
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
DatilCibola National Forest13,958
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Frisco BoxGila National Forest38,979
GallinasSanta Fe National Forest13,208
Guaje CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,104
Holy GhostSanta Fe National Forest2,352
Juan de Gabaldon GrantSanta Fe National Forest8,023
Little TesuqueSanta Fe National Forest815
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Mother HubbardGila National Forest5,895
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
NolanGila National Forest13,051
Pacheco CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,012
Pecos WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest5,396
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Peralta RidgeSanta Fe National Forest4,027
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Taylor CreekGila National Forest16,639
Tesuque CreekSanta Fe National Forest810
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
Oregon (7)
AreaForestAcres
Green MountainOchoco National Forest6,613
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
W - T ThreeUmatilla National Forest1,705
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Utah (8)
AreaForestAcres
0401001Ashley National Forest11,705
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
418026Uinta National Forest14,038
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Red Canyon NorthDixie National Forest9,973
Washington (8)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
Devils GulchWenatchee National Forest24,419
Meadow CreekUmatilla National Forest4,882
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
Slide RidgeWenatchee National Forest11,430
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
Wyoming (2)
AreaForestAcres
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Piney CreekBighorn National Forest22,240
References (24)
  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. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  5. 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.
  6. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  7. Horn, H. S. 1968. The adaptive significance of colonial nesting in the Brewer's Blackbird. Ecology 49:682-694.
  8. Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb. 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
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  10. 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.
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  12. National Geographic Society (NGS). 1983. Field guide to the birds of North America. National Geographic Society, Washington, DC.
  13. Norris, R. A. 1958. Comparative biosystematics and life history of the nuthatches Sitta pygmaea and Sitta pusilla. Berkeley. 182 pp.
  14. 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.
  15. Peterson, R.T. 1990b. A field guide to western birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  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. Sydeman, W. J., M. Guntert, and R. J. Balda. 1988. Annual reproductive yield in the cooperative pygmy nuthatch (SITTA PYGMAEA). Auk 105:70-77.
  18. 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.
  19. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  20. Thomas, J. W., Ward, J., Raphael, M.G., Anthony, R.G., Forsman, E.D., Gunderson, A.G., Holthausen, R.S., Marcot, B.G., Reeves, G.H., Sedell, J.R. and Solis, D.M. 1993. Viability assessments and management considerations for species associated with late-successional and old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. The report of the Scientific Analysis Team. USDA Forest Service, Spotted Owl EIS Team, Portland Oregon. 530 pp.
  21. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
  22. U.S. Forest Service (USFS), et al. 1993. Draft supplemental environmental impact statement on management of habitat for late-successional and old-growth forest related species within the range of the northern spotted owl. Published separately is Appendix A: Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team. 1993. Forest ecosystem management: an ecological, economic, and social assessment (FEMAT Report).
  23. Williams, L. 1952b. Breeding behavior of the Brewer blackbird. Condor 54:3-47.
  24. Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.