White-breased nuthatch

 

Little Nut

Red-breasted nuthatch


Red-breasted nuthatch and goldfinch


White-breasted nuthatch

The red-breasted nuthatch, now affectionately known as "Little Nut," spent his second day at our house. Late in the afternoon, it was joined by a second one, so we are hoping they take up residence. The white-breasted nuthatches are still around. Little nut seems to interact a bit with the larger white-breasted ones and generally gets along with all the backyard birds. Both varieties prefer being upside down.

Winter Birds: White-throated Sparrow, Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse

White-throated Sparrow





Tufted Titmice


White Breasted Nuthatch

When it snows, or when we want the birds to come up to the deck, we leave out nyjer, peanuts, and sunflower seeds for the winter birds in addition to the safflower, suet and nyjer in the feeders. The juncos prefer the nyjer and the cardinals prefer the sunflower seeds. Blue jays, red bellied woodpeckers and tufted titmice like the peanuts. The nuthatch will visit the suet and the feeders but rarely comes to the deck. The blue jays can be quite aggressive with the peanuts, but Mike got a photo of a nice pair of tufted titmice enjoying them without the blue jays interfering.

White Breasted Nuthatch

The nuthatches don't come to our feeders as routinely as all the other backyard birds do, and they have never come up close onto the deck railing, but they are almost always in the trees enjoying the yard with the other common birds.