Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) is a member of the Sittidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 10.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Sittidae Nuthatches
- Genus Sitta
- Species pusilla
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Sittidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown-headed 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 Brown-headed Nuthatch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) is a member of the Sittidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA se USA.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.2 g, with a wing length of about 6.5 cm and a tail of around 3.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 891,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown-headed Nuthatch?
The Brown-headed Nuthatch is a very small bird that weighs around 10.2 g.
Where does the Brown-headed Nuthatch live?
The Brown-headed Nuthatch is found across North America with a range covering NA se USA, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Brown-headed Nuthatch belong to?
The Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) belongs to the Sittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Brown-headed Nuthatch eat?
The Brown-headed Nuthatch is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Brown-headed Nuthatch migrate?
The Brown-headed Nuthatch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown-headed 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 Brown-headed Nuthatch make?
1 real field recording of the Brown-headed 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 Brown-headed Nuthatch's range?
The Brown-headed Nuthatch has a mapped global range of about 891,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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