White-breasted Nuthatch
(Sitta carolinensis)

The White-breasted Nuthatch exhibits an unusual behavior referred to as "bill sweeping." This bird will pick up an insect, a piece of fur, or a piece of vegetation in its bill and sweep the bark around its nest cavity. Perhaps the purpose is to mask its own scent around the nest and therefore prevent detection by potential predators, such as squirrels.

White-breasted Nuthatches are mostly nonmigratory birds that frequent deciduous woodlands across North America. These agile tree climbers can actually creep down a tree trunk. Primarily solitary and territorial, White-breasted Nuthatches are a common and fairly tame bird at feeders.

At six inches in length, the White-breasted Nuthatch is the largest nuthatch in North America. It has a large bill that is either straight or slightly upturned. Males have a black cap and black band on their upper mantle; on females, these characteristics may be dark gray. The upperparts of White-breasted Nuthatches are blue gray, with blackish coverts and flight feathers. On the eastern form of the White-breasted Nuthatch, the black tertials are clearly marked with pale gray edges. The undersides are predominantly white, with a buff wash on the vent and belly. The outer tail feathers are black with a white band that is obvious in flight.