Brown-headed Nuthatch Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  The Brown-headed Nuthatch is a tiny, compact bird. It appears rather round thanks to its short tail, legs, and neck. It also has a chisel-like bill that looks a little too big for its body.

  Relative Size

  Larger than a Golden-crowned Kinglet, smaller than a Tufted Titmouse.

  sparrow-sized or smaller

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
  • • Length: 3.9-4.3 in (10-11 cm)
    • Weight: 0.3 oz (10 g)
    • Wingspan: 6.3-7.1 in (16-18 cm)

  © David Hollie / Macaulay Library

• Color Pattern

  This bird is white below and gray above with a brown head. Finer inspection reveals a white spot on the back of the head and small white spots in the tail that are visible in flight. Males and females look similar.

• Behavior

  Nuthatches zigzag their way up and down tree trunks and branches high in the canopy, squeaking as they go. Although their calls aren’t very loud there’s usually more than one in a group calling at the same time, so they won't go unheard. They are social birds and often fly in shallow dips from tree to tree with one trailing behind the other.
• Habitat

  Brown-headed Nuthatches occur in Southeastern pine forests in areas with loblolly, shortleaf, longleaf, and slash pine trees. They are most common in open and mature pine forests and are less common in mixed pine-hardwood stands.