Skip to main content

Photo: Tisha Mukherjee / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

White-tailed Nuthatch

Sitta himalayensis

White-tailed Nuthatch (Sitta himalayensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists
See what's near you right now

The White-tailed Nuthatch (Sitta himalayensis) is a member of the Sittidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 14.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Sittidae Nuthatches
  4. Genus Sitta
  5. Species himalayensis

Where it lives

Himalayas to northwestern Vietnam

Quick facts

Weight
14.3 g
Family
Sittidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The White-tailed Nuthatch is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The White-tailed Nuthatch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The White-tailed Nuthatch (Sitta himalayensis) is a species of bird in the Sittidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Himalayas to nw Vietnam.

It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.3 g, with a wing length of about 7.2 cm and a tail of around 3.8 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 413,000 km².

Songs & calls

White-tailed Nuthatch — Call

Recorded by Hans Matheve Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the White-tailed Nuthatch?

The White-tailed Nuthatch is a very small bird that weighs around 14.3 g.

Where does the White-tailed Nuthatch live?

The White-tailed Nuthatch is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Himalayas to nw Vietnam, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the White-tailed Nuthatch belong to?

The White-tailed Nuthatch (Sitta himalayensis) belongs to the Sittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the White-tailed Nuthatch eat?

The White-tailed Nuthatch is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the White-tailed Nuthatch migrate?

The White-tailed Nuthatch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the White-tailed Nuthatch endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the White-tailed Nuthatch make?

1 real field recording of the White-tailed Nuthatch — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the White-tailed Nuthatch's range?

The White-tailed Nuthatch has a mapped global range of about 413,000 km².

Conservation

Least Concern

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

Explore more birds

More in Sittidae

More in Songbirds

Guides for this bird

Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds

How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.

4 min read

Back to top