A handful of people correctly identified the cute bird from last week’s puzzler as a white-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis.
White-breasted nuthatches are common throughout North America. They readily come to bird feeders so if you want to see one, put out some black sunflower seeds.
Nuthatches are cool little birds that can climb both UP and DOWN a tree trunk. And unlike brown creepers, they don’t use their tail feathers to support them–they rely solely on their legs for support.
Know why they’re called nuthatches? Because they are known to jam nuts into tree crevices or under loose bark and then whack into them with their sharp bills to “hatch” out the seed inside.
White-breasted nuthatches nest in cavities in dead or hollow trees. They are one of about 20 species of nuthatches. Some nuthatches will collect and use mud to reduce the entrance to their nesting cavity to discourage predators from eating their babies. And another cool thing I learned is that some white-breasted nuthatches will actually collect blister beetles and then smear them near the exit hole of their nest. Know why they do this? Once again, to deter possible predators. The beetle guts don’t smell very pleasant and other animals may stay away.
Can you agree with me that nature really IS AMAZING! Such wonderful and perfect adaptations these animals have!
Ready for another puzzler? Let’s do another one of a handsome bird you can find on a tree trunk, and will also visit your backyard bird feeder. See if you can identify it.
I wish you a FABULOUS Saturday!