Nuthatches
The nuthatches are a family, Sittidae, of generally very similar small passerine birds found throughout the Northern hemisphere.
The nuthatch family, Sittidae, traditionally contained 23 species. The subfamily Sittinae held the 22 species of “true” nuthatches, and the subfamily Tichodromadinae held a single species, the unique Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria, which is now separated in its own family, Tichodromadidae.
Most nuthatches are woodland birds, although a few species have adapted to rocky habitats. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike species such as woodpeckers which can only go upwards.
Description
Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet. Their shape is distinctive, and all species are recognizable as nuthatches if one has been seen.
Diet / Feeding
They are generally omnivorous, taking insects, nuts and seeds. Most are resident, but the Red-breasted Nuthatch migrates from the north of its range.
Breeding / Nesting
Nests are in holes or crevices. In some species the size of the hole is reduced by the building of a mud wall.
Species:
This group gets its name from the habit of the Eurasian Nuthatch of wedging a nut in a crevice in a tree, and then hacking at it with its strong bill.
The list of species below, all in the genus Sitta (Linnaeus, 1758), is probably the maximum. Some taxonomists consider that some of the indicated species are in fact conspecific (of, or belonging to, the same species).
Family: Sittidae
- Eurasian Nuthatch aka Wood Nuthatch , Sitta europaea
- Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Sitta nagaensis
- Kashmir Nuthatch, Sitta cashmirensis
- Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Sitta castanea
- White-tailed Nuthatch, Sitta himalayensis
- White-browed Nuthatch, Sitta victoriae
- Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea
- Brown-headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla
- Corsican Nuthatch, Sitta whiteheadi
- Algerian Nuthatch, Sitta ledanti and on the Greek island of Lesvos.
- Krüper's Nuthatch, Sitta krueperi : The Krüper's Nuthatch is a small nuthatch found in south-west Asia. It occurs in Turkey, Georgia, Russia
- Chinese Nuthatch, Sitta villosa
- Yunnan Nuthatch, Sitta yunnanensis
- Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
- White-cheeked Nuthatch, Sitta leucopsis
- White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
- Western Rock Nuthatch, Sitta neumayer
- Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Sitta tephronota
- Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Sitta frontalis
- Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Sitta solangiae
- Sulphur-billed Nuthatch, Sitta oenochlamys
- Blue Nuthatch, Sitta azurea
- Giant Nuthatch, Sitta magna
- Beautiful Nuthatch, Sitta formosa: The Beautiful Nuthatch is one of the rarest nuthatches on Earth. It occurs in north east India and neighbouring regions, with odd records across to Thailand, where it may be a winter visitor or resident. This is a large nuthatch, black-backed with white streaking. The upper back, rump and shoulders are bright blue. The underparts are dull orange, although the face is somewhat paler. In flight, a white patch contrasts with the otherwise dark underwing. Sexes are similar, as are young birds. It forages for insects in high trees in dense forest, and this always rare species has been adversely affected by woodland clearance. Its rarity, retiring habits, and the political and geographical inaccessibility of its range mean that this species is little known.
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org
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