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Eurasian NuthatchAlternate name(s): "Wood Nuthatch" ![]() Size: 12-14.5 cm; wing span 22.5-27 cm Weight: 19-30 g |
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Similar |
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See Eurasian
Nuthatch at Wikipedia ![]() |
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Photos |
Race "caesia"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Frontal view of a male Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Tirana, Albania, August 2021]
Near-frontal view of a male Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
View onto the back of a male Eurasian Nuthatch; note the dark
red-brown sides
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Ventral view of a male Eurasian Nuthatch; note the dark
red-brown vent
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Race "hispaniensis"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Lateral view of a male Eurasian Nuthatch; note the dark
red-brown vent
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a male Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2014]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]
Near-frontal view of a female Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]
Near-lateral view of a female Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ponte de Sor, Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, September 2020]
Near-lateral view of a female Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]
Near-lateral view of a female Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2020]
Near-lateral view of a female Eurasian Nuthatch on the ground
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ponte de Sor, Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, September 2020]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Nuthatch; note the pale vent
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2020]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Nuthatch moving head-down
down a tree trunk
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, July 2014]
Ventral view of a female Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2020]
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of an Eurasian Nuthatch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2019]
Near-frontal view of a Eurasian Nuthatch "giving way to
traffic from the right"
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2014]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Mar - Aug | Eggs: 6 - 9 | Incubation period: 13 - 18 days | Fledging age: 20 - 26 days |
The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude and on altitude.
Nest building: Female (& male?) | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
Type: Tree hollow | Material: Wood chips | Height above ground: 2 - 20 m |
Eurasian Nuthatch leaving its nest hollow
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[30 km South of Paris, France, October 2019]
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Eggs |
Size: 20 x 14 mm | Colour: White, with small reddish speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
The name of Eurasian Nuthatches derives from the birds' habit of wedging nuts into crevices and then cracking them.
View of the upperparts of a female Eurasian Nuthatch moving
head-down down a tree trunk
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, July 2014]
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Food, Diet |
Eurasian Nuthatches feed mainly on insects, with a preference for caterpillars and beetles. In autumn this diet can be augmented by nuts and seeds.
Eurasian Nuthatch with a larva
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2020]
Eurasian Nuthatch pulling its prey out of the bark of a tree
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, January 2018]
Eurasian Nuthatch drinking water
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2014]
Eurasian Nuthatch scooping up a droplet of water
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2014]
Eurasian Nuthatch visiting a bird feeder
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Elvtille, Hessen, Germany, December 2017]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
nuthat_jp_20200910.m4a |
hispaniensis (Portugal) |
Contact calls(?) | © JP | |
nuthat_jp_20200318.m4a |
hispaniensis (Portugal) |
Contact calls(?) | © JP | |
nuthat_jp_20200319.m4a |
hispaniensis (Portugal) |
Contact calls(?) | © JP | |
nuthat_jp_20200403.m4a |
hispaniensis (Portugal) |
Contact calls(?) | © JP | |
nuthat_jp_20200323.m4a |
hispaniensis (Portugal) |
Contact calls(?) | © JP | |
nuthat_jp_20200410.m4a |
hispaniensis (Portugal) |
Contact calls(?) | © JP | |
nuthat_jp_20200326.m4a |
hispaniensis (Portugal) |
Alarm calls(?) | © JP |
More Eurasian Nuthatch sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.