Birds · Passeriformes · Sittidae

Eurasian Nuthatch

Sitta europaea

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Eurasian nuthatch is a species of passerine bird of the family Sittidae. It is a medium-sized bird measuring 14 cm in length. Like other nuthatches, it is a robust bird, with a short tail and a long bill. The upperparts are blue-grey, and the colours of the underparts vary with geographical location from pure red to white or yellowish, with or without a pale area on the cheek.

Weight

17 g – 28 g

Size

12 cm – 15 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestOmnivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Temperate forest

49countries 250parks

Fun facts

It is the only European bird that goes down trunks head first: woodpeckers and treecreepers only climb up, propped on their tails, and the nuthatch does it with no tail support at all, on its claws alone.
It narrows the entrance of its nest hole with mud until only it can fit, shutting out starlings and other larger competitors, and that mortar hardens until it is like cement.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Mature deciduous and mixed woodland, parks and wooded gardens of Eurasia
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 16 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 7 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitta_europaea