Photo: Becky Matsubara from El Sobrante, California / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) — 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 Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) is a member of the Sittidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 9.8 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 canadensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.8 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sittidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Red-breasted Nuthatch is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) belongs to the Sittidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.8 g, with a wing length of about 6.6 cm and a tail of around 3.6 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 7.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-breasted Nuthatch?
The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a very small bird that weighs around 9.8 g.
Where does the Red-breasted Nuthatch live?
The Red-breasted Nuthatch is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Red-breasted Nuthatch belong to?
The Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) belongs to the Sittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-breasted Nuthatch eat?
The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Red-breasted Nuthatch migrate?
The Red-breasted Nuthatch is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Red-breasted 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 Red-breasted Nuthatch make?
1 real field recording of the Red-breasted 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 Red-breasted Nuthatch's range?
The Red-breasted Nuthatch has a mapped global range of about 7.3 million 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
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.
How to Attract Red-breasted Nuthatch to Your Yard
The honest, data-backed way to attract Red-breasted Nuthatch to your yard — the feeders and food they actually use (black-oil sunflower), nesting help, and habitat that brings them in.