Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) Julie A. Craves
Wayne Co., MI 2/1/2009 © Darlene Friedman This species sponsored in honor of Julie Craves.
(Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II)
The Red-breasted Nuthatch has long garnered Distribution Red-breasted Nuthatches are common residents affection. Audubon (1840-1844) admired the of the UP and NLP of Michigan. Participants in “activity and industry of this little creature.” MBBA I found this species preferred mixed John Burroughs (1919) commented on one that forests in the UP, with coniferous and mixed spent the winter at his feeding table, noting forests used with the same frequency in the “…his pretty form, and his engaging ways NLP. This supports Ghalambor and Martin’s greatly endeared him to us.” And Arthur (1999) assessment that eastern populations are Cleveland Bent (1948) could not resist a more tolerant of mixed habitats than western warmhearted description which concluded, birds. “…the blue-gray, black, and tawny coloring makes a pleasing artistic combination, and the Barrows (1912) stated that Red-breasted diminutive tail supplies a piquant effect.” Nuthatches were absent in the SLP, or at most
occurred only as scattered pairs. Wood (1951) Red-breasted Nuthatches breed in coniferous gave the summer southern range limit as and mixed forests across Canada, the American Wexford County. Several decades later, Payne west, New England, the Upper Great Lakes, and (1983) was able to cite at least a half-dozen the Appalachians (Ghalambor and Martin 1999). summer records from the SLP. In MBBA I, this This species winters mostly within its breeding species was confirmed in six townships in six range, but many move south in irruption years. counties in the SLP. Confirmations roughly These events are correlated with poor conifer doubled in the SLP in MBBA II. cone production in northern areas, often in combination with a large cone crop the previous This pattern of increased frequency of southern year that resulted in high densities of nuthatches nesting has also been found in the surrounding (Koenig and Knops 2001). Irruptions generally region. Red-breasted Nuthatches were occur every two to four years, but the number of historically absent from the southern part of Red-breasted Nuthatches that travel south is Ontario, but are now only missing from the highly variable from year to year. This annual extreme southwestern portion of the province, fluctuation was noted for Michigan even at the with a marked southward expansion noted over turn of the last century (Barrows 1912).
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) Julie A. Craves the previous 20 years (Cheskey 2007). In Ohio, Abundance and Population Trends Peterjohn and Rice (1991) noted this species (Click to view trends from the BBS) began to be found more frequently in summer Estimating population trends for Red-breasted during the 1970s, becoming annual nesters in Nuthatches is hampered by a low abundance on the 1980s. In Ohio’s first Atlas, Red-breasted BBS routes and their inconsistent numbers from Nuthatches were found in 12 counties and year to year due to their irruptive habits confirmed in four (Peterjohn and Rice 1991). In (Ghalambor and Martin 1999). Nonetheless, the first several years of Ohio’s second Atlas, some signs point to an increase in the numbers Red-breasted Nuthatches were recorded in 42 of Red-breasted Nuthatches in the state. BBS Atlas blocks and confirmed in seven, mostly in data show a significant annual increase of 4.4% the northern third of the state (OBBA 2009, data in Michigan since 1983. They were found in provisional). Finally, although no Red-breasted more townships in MBBA II than in MBBA I, Nuthatches were recorded in Indiana’s first with a large increase in the SLP. The percentage Atlas (Castrale et al. 1998), they were of townships in which breeding evidence was confirmed in one county and recorded as found was up 30% overall from MBBA I. probable in another over the first four years of the state’s second Atlas effort (USGS 2009, data More Red-breasted Nuthatches have been provisional). observed during recent Michigan winters as well. The number per party hour on Michigan Breeding Biology Christmas Bird Counts during the period Pair bonds may form at any time during the year covering MBBA II was nearly double what was between individuals that are residents on the recorded for the years covering MBBA I (NAS breeding grounds (Ghalambor and Martin 2009). Participants in Cornell’s Project 1999). Red-breasted Nuthatches are cavity FeederWatch have reported elevated numbers of nesters, excavating their own holes in soft Red-breasted Nuthatches during winter in the wood, sometimes using existing holes, and Great Lakes region since 2003-2004 (Cornell occasionally utilizing nest boxes (Hamas 1991, Lab of Ornithology 2008). Because Red- Ghalambor and Martin 1999). Nests are lined breasted Nuthatches will nest in fairly urban with fine grasses, feathers, fur, shredded bark, settings such as residential areas and cemeteries or other soft materials, and throughout the (Cheskey 1990, Peterjohn and Rice 1991), nesting period both parents apply conifer resin perhaps birds lingering after winter boom years to both the inner and outer surfaces of the are responsible for the increase in southern entrance hole (Ghalambor and Martin 1999). nesting records even in developed regions. This is thought to deter predators (although there is not consensus among researchers), and Conservation similar plastering behavior is found in other Although Red-breasted Nuthatches appear to be nuthatch species worldwide (Pasquet 1989). Egg increasing in number and expanding their range laying occurs between April and July, and in Michigan, there are aspects to their life typically only one brood is initiated per year history which may make them subject to (Ghalambor and Martin 1999). Clutches are declines. These nuthatches usually excavate comprised of five to eight eggs although a their own nest cavities. They may be typical clutch is six eggs (Ghalambor and industrious, but they are tiny birds and rely on Martin 1999). Only females incubate the eggs finding wood soft enough for them to be able to and the male brings food to the female when she create nest holes. Snag management that is either on or off the nest (Ghalambor and diminishes the number of dead or dying trees Martin 1999). could potentially limit nest sites and thus
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) Julie A. Craves reproductive output. This species also prefers to Cadman, D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Beck, D. nest in forests that have a wide array of tree Lepage, and A.R. Couturier, editors. Atlas species. Timber practices that reduce forest of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001- diversity could have negative impacts 2005. Bird Studies Canada, Environment (Ghalambor and Martin 1999). Canada, Ontario Field Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and Red-breasted Nuthatches may also be Ontario Nature. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. vulnerable to changes in habitat suitability due Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2008. Project to climate change. Conifers are an essential FeederWatch [PFW]. Species trend graphs: component of their breeding habitat. Models Red-breasted Nuthatch, Great Lakes region. based on several climate change scenarios
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) Julie A. Craves
evolutionary and biogeographic consequences. Ibis 140:150-156. Payne, R.B. 1983. A Distributional Checklist of the Birds of Michigan. Miscellaneous Publication 164. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Peterjohn, B.G., and D.L. Rice. 1991. The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas. Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Columbus, Ohio, USA. Price, J. 2000. Modeling the potential impacts of climate change on the summer distribution of Michigan’s nongame birds. Michigan Birds and Natural History 7: 3-13. U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]. 2009. Breeding Bird Atlas Explorer (BBA Explorer). Indiana Breeding Bird Atlas 2005-2010.
Suggested Citation
Craves, J.A. 2011. Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis). in A.T. Chartier, J.J. Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman, editors. The Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Accessed online at:
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center