Brown-headed nuthatch
The brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) is one of 25 species of nuthatches, is commonly found in Alabama, and is one of the few birds that are exclusive to the United States.
Physical Characteristics
A very small bird, brown-headed nuthatches have a length of 4-5", a wingspan of 6.3-7.1", and weigh approximately 0.4oz. They have whitish bellies and blue-gray backs, with a brown crown. They have very short tails. They exhibit no sexual dimorphism, as the females and males look the same.
Natural History
Brown-headed nuthatches live exclusively in pine forests of the southern United States. Known for their "squeak-toy" like call, these active birds can often be found hopping up and down the face of tree trunks in the area, searching for insects and pine seeds. They nest in tree cavities and the female will lay of clutch of 3-9 eggs. Brown-headed nuthatches are one of only a relatively few bird species that use tools, as they use a piece of bark to pry up bark on the trunk of a tree to look for insects.
Conservation Status
Brown-headed nuthatches are listed as "least-concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, meaning that populations are stable and are not currently threatened.
References
- Wilson, Jim and Anselm Atkins (2002) Common Birds of Birmingham 2nd edition. Decatur, Georgia: Hexagon Publishers ISBN 096672402X
- "Brown-headed Nuthatch" [1] All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bull, John, and John Farrand, Jr. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region. Revised Edition. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1994. 617-618. Print.