Pygmy Nuthatch

Pygmy Nuthatch

Taxobox
name = Pygmy Nuthatch
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1


image_caption = California, USA.
image_width = 300px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Sittidae
genus = "Sitta"
species = "S. pygmaea"
binomial = "Sitta pygmaea"
binomial_authority = Vigors, 1839The Pygmy Nuthatch ("Sitta pygmaea") is a tiny songbird, about 10 cm (4 inches) long and about 10 grams in weight. It ranges from southern British Columbia south through various discontinuous parts of the western U.S. (northwest U.S., Sierra Nevada range, southern Rockies, etc), to central Mexico. It is usually found in pines (especially Ponderosa Pines), Douglas-firs, and other conifers. Pygmy Nuthatches clamber acrobatically in the foliage of these trees, feeding on insects and seeds; less often they creep along limbs or the trunk like bigger nuthatches.

Pygmy Nuthatches nest in cavities in dead stubs of conifers, lining the bottom of the cavity with pine-cone scales, plant down, and other soft plant and animal materials. They may fill cracks or crevices around the entrance with fur; the function of this behavior is unknown. The female lays 4–9 eggs, which are white with fine reddish-brown spotting. She does most of the incubation, which lasts about 16 days. The young leave the nest about 22 days after hatching.

This species is highly gregarious. A nesting pair may have other birds as helpers. Outside the breeding season, this bird wanders in noisy flocks. It also roosts communally; over 100 birds have been seen huddled in a single tree cavity.

All plumages are similar, with a warm gray cap, blue-gray upperparts, and whitish underparts. The only feature not seen in the photograph is a whitish spot on the nape, particularly in worn plumage (summer). Vocalizations are highly varied chirps, peeps, and chattering.

This species is very similar to the Brown-headed Nuthatch of the southeastern U.S. Their ranges have no overlap.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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External links

* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i7300id.html Pygmy Nuthatch - "Sitta pygmaea"] - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pygmy_Nuthatch.html Pygmy Nuthatch Species Account] - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/pygmy_nuthatch_info.htm Pygmy Nuthatch Information and Photos] - South Dakota Birds and Birding
* [http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/otherbirds.html Photographs of Pygmy Nuthatches nesting in a box]
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=7442 Pygmy Nuthatch videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.natureserve.org/infonatura/servlet/InfoNatura?sourceTemplate=Ltabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=Ldetail_report.wmt&selectedReport=&summaryView=Ltabular_report.wmt&elKey=100063&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=100063&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&selectedIndexes=100063 Article & RangeMaps] InfoNatura, NatureServe
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=pygmy+nuthatch&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Pygmy Nuthatch photo gallery] VIREO


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pygmy nuthatch — Nuthatch Nut hatch , n. [OE. nuthake. See 2d {Hack}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of birds of the genus {Sitta}, as the European species ({Sitta Europ[ae]a}). The {white breasted nuthatch} ({Sitta Carolinensis}), the {red breasted… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pygmy nuthatch — noun : a small nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) of western No. America that is largely bluish gray above with white chin and neck patch and whitish underparts * * * pygmy nuthatch, a small nuthatch inhabiting the coniferous forests of western North… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pygmy nuthatch — nykštukinis bukutis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Sitta pygmaea angl. pygmy nuthatch vok. Zwergkleiber, m rus. поползень крошка, m pranc. sittelle pygmée, f ryšiai: platesnis terminas – bukučiai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Nuthatch — Nut hatch , n. [OE. nuthake. See 2d {Hack}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of birds of the genus {Sitta}, as the European species ({Sitta Europ[ae]a}). The {white breasted nuthatch} ({Sitta Carolinensis}), the {red breasted nuthatch}… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nuthatch — Nuthatches A Eurasian Nuthatch climbing a tree trunk in search of food Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • red-breasted nuthatch — Nuthatch Nut hatch , n. [OE. nuthake. See 2d {Hack}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of birds of the genus {Sitta}, as the European species ({Sitta Europ[ae]a}). The {white breasted nuthatch} ({Sitta Carolinensis}), the {red breasted… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • white-breasted nuthatch — Nuthatch Nut hatch , n. [OE. nuthake. See 2d {Hack}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of birds of the genus {Sitta}, as the European species ({Sitta Europ[ae]a}). The {white breasted nuthatch} ({Sitta Carolinensis}), the {red breasted… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • White-breasted Nuthatch — ] The White breasted Nuthatch is the only North American nuthatch usually found in deciduous trees; Red breasted, Pygmy and Brown headed Nuthatches prefer pines.The presence of mature or decaying trees with holes suitable for nesting is essential …   Wikipedia

  • Sitta Canadensis — Nuthatch Nut hatch , n. [OE. nuthake. See 2d {Hack}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of birds of the genus {Sitta}, as the European species ({Sitta Europ[ae]a}). The {white breasted nuthatch} ({Sitta Carolinensis}), the {red breasted… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sitta Carolinensis — Nuthatch Nut hatch , n. [OE. nuthake. See 2d {Hack}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of birds of the genus {Sitta}, as the European species ({Sitta Europ[ae]a}). The {white breasted nuthatch} ({Sitta Carolinensis}), the {red breasted… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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