Photo: JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Sitta frontalis
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) is a member of the Sittidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 16.5 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 frontalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Sittidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Velvet-fronted 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 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) belongs to the Sittidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India to se China and Greater Sundas (except Bali).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.5 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Velvet-fronted Nuthatch?
The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch is a small bird that weighs around 16.5 g.
Where does the Velvet-fronted Nuthatch live?
The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India to se China and Greater Sundas (except Bali), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Velvet-fronted Nuthatch belong to?
The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) belongs to the Sittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Velvet-fronted Nuthatch eat?
The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Velvet-fronted Nuthatch migrate?
The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Velvet-fronted 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 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch make?
1 real field recording of the Velvet-fronted 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 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch's range?
The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch has a mapped global range of about 5.2 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
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