• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Local Navigation
  • Skip to Search
  • Skip to Sitemap
  • Skip to Footer

Pygmy Nuthatch

Sitta pygmaea ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: SITTIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

  • Similar Species
  • Related Species
  • Go to:
Pygmy Nuthatch Photo

© Kevin T. Karlson

A small, social, and noisy nuthatch of western forests.

Read Cornell Lab of Ornithology's blog, Round Robin

Appearance

Nuthatches
Nuthatches
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small nuthatch; climbs head-first down tree trunks.
  • Crown gray-brown.
  • Back gray.
  • Belly buffy white.

Immature Description

Similar to adult, but crown and nape gray and only slightly different from color of back.

Range Map Help

Pygmy Nuthatch Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Field MarksHelp

Similar Species

  • Brown-headed Nuthatch with distinctly brown cap and no white at base of central tail feathers. Ranges do not overlap.
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch larger, has white eyestripe, black or dark gray crown, and is reddish underneath.