Brown-headed nuthatch
Brown-headed nuthatch | |
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In North Carolina, US | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Sittidae |
Genus: | Sitta |
Species: | S. pusilla
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Binomial name | |
Sitta pusilla Latham, 1790
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Subspecies | |
S. p. caniceps | |
Range of S. pusilla |
The brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) is a small
The bird, like other
The bird is regularly observed using a small chips of bark, small twigs, and pine needles held in its beak as tools to dig for insects.[7] The nuthatch exhibits other curious behaviors such as cooperative groups where groups of 3–5 adults provide care at a single nest.[8] Recent genetic assessments suggest some of the putatively non-breeding adults associated with these groups may actually breed with individuals in neighboring territories.[9] This nuthatch also exhibits a wide range of other social behaviors that include social grooming[10] and male-female duets similar to those observed for the pygmy nuthatch.[11]
The brown-headed nuthatch has been found to prefer making their nests at the top of short snags.[12]
Despite the other species' common name, the brown-headed nuthatch is about the same size as the pygmy nuthatch and the two species are the world's smallest nuthatches. In the brown-headed nuthatch, the total length is 9–11 cm (3.5–4.3 in), wingspan is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) and body mass is 10–12 g (0.35–0.42 oz).[13][14] This species sports a brown cap with narrow black eyeline and buff white cheeks, chin, and belly. Its wings are bluish-gray in color. A small white spot is found at the nape of the neck. The bird's call is a sharp whee-hyah sounding very similar to a "rubber duck" toy and particularly is loud for a bird its size. They also make softer "pit pit pit" calls while in flight as well as other squeaking noises. If heard or seen well, this species is virtually unmistakable in the wild, since it overlaps only with the very differently marked and larger red-breasted and white-breasted nuthatches.[15]
References
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Hayes, William K.; Barry, Robert X.; McKenzie, Zeko; Barry, Patricia (2004). "Grand Bahama's Brown-headed Nuthatch: A Distinct and Endangered Species" (PDF). Bahamas Journal of Science. 12 (1): 21–28.
- ^ "Species Updates – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2021-07-28.
- ^ ISSN 1712-6568.
- ISSN 0007-1595.
- ISSN 0004-8038.
- S2CID 88701399.
- S2CID 86073307.
- S2CID 86170699.
- S2CID 85799935.
- ISSN 1600-048X.
- S2CID 16849166.
- ^ "Brown-headed Nuthatch Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology".
- ^ "The Wild Bird Store in Tucson, AZ". Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
- ^ "Brown-headed Nuthatch Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology".
External links
- Brown-Headed Nuthatch - Sitta pusilla - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Brown-headed Nuthatch Species Account – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Explore Species: Brown-headed Nuthatch at eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
- Brown-headed Nuthatch Bird Sound at Florida Museum of Natural History
- Brown-headed Nuthatch photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)