Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) — 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 White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a member of the Sittidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 21 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 carolinensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sittidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Male vs female
Male has a glossy black cap and nape; the female's cap averages grayer, but a substantial and geographically variable share of females also show black caps (roughly 10% in the northeastern US rising to 40-80% in the Rockies, Mexico and the southeastern US), so the sexes cannot always be reliably separated in the field.
Juvenile appearance
Like adults but duller overall.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-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 White-breasted Nuthatch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) belongs to the Sittidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA widespread, also n Mexico.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21 g, with a wing length of about 8.9 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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 8.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-breasted Nuthatch?
The White-breasted Nuthatch is a small bird that weighs around 21 g.
Where does the White-breasted Nuthatch live?
The White-breasted Nuthatch is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA widespread, also n Mexico, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-breasted Nuthatch belong to?
The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) belongs to the Sittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-breasted Nuthatch eat?
The White-breasted Nuthatch is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the White-breasted Nuthatch migrate?
The White-breasted Nuthatch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-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 White-breasted Nuthatch make?
1 real field recording of the White-breasted Nuthatch — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-breasted Nuthatch's range?
The White-breasted Nuthatch has a mapped global range of about 8.8 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 White-breasted Nuthatch to Your Yard
The honest, data-backed way to attract White-breasted Nuthatch to your yard — the feeders and food they actually use (black-oil sunflower), nesting help, and habitat that brings them in.