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Brown-headed Nuthatch

Sitta pusilla ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: SITTIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

One of the few birds found almost exclusively in the United States, the Brown-headed Nuthatch is restricted to the pine forests of the southeastern states. A small but declining population is also found in the Bahamas.

Inside Birding
For complete information on this species, visit The Birds of North America Online.

Appearance

Nuthatches
Nuthatches
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small nuthatch; climbs headfirst down tree trunks.
  • Crown dull brown.
  • Underparts whitish.
  • Back, nape, wings, and rump blue gray.

Immature Description

Immature similar to adult, but duller and with more gray and less brown. White neck spot indistinct or absent.

Range Map Help

Brown-headed Nuthatch Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Similar Species

  • Pygmy Nuthatch has gray-brown cap, white at base of central tail feathers, blacker eyestripe, and a less distinct white nape patch. Ranges do not overlap.
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch larger, has white eyestripe, black or dark gray crown, and is reddish underneath.