The Brown-headed Nuthatch is a small songbird found in pine forests across the southeastern United States. With their distinctive brown caps, blue-gray plumage, and nasal yank-yank calls, these active little nuthatches bring life and energy to backyards and woodlands.
If you live in the southeast and want to attract Brown-headed Nuthatches to your yard, there are a few key strategies to try. Offering the right habitat, food sources, and nest boxes tailored to their needs and preferences will greatly increase your chances of spotting these characterful birds. Read on to learn exactly how to create an enticing environment that will draw in the Brown-headed Nuthatches.
Provide Pine Habitat
Brown-headed Nuthatches have an strong association with pine trees, particularly mature stands of tall pines. Their preferred habitat is open pine woodlands, pine savannas, and pine-oak forests. They actively forage on the trunks, branches, and twigs of pine trees searching for food.
To attract Brown-headed Nuthatches, landscaping your yard with plenty of pine trees is highly recommended. Species such as Loblolly Pine, Longleaf Pine, Shortleaf Pine, and Slash Pine are ideal. The more large mature pine trees on your property the better. Not only will this provide food sources for the nuthatches, but also necessary nesting cavities. Brown-headed Nuthatches nest in old woodpecker holes or natural cavities in dead pine snags.
If you have limited space, even planting a few pine trees will help. The sound of the nuthatches yank-yank calling carries far through the pine branches, which can draw in individuals from nearby pine forests to investigate your yard. Place pine feeders or nest boxes within your pine trees to further entice them.
Supply Suet and Seeds
While they forage extensively on pine trees, Brown-headed Nuthatches will also visit feeders in backyards close to pine woodlands. Stock up on specially formulated suet cakes made for woodpeckers and nuthatches. The high fat content of suet provides the birds with quick energy. Hang suet feeders from pine branches, as the nuthatches prefer feeding in the trees rather than coming to ground feeders.
Black oil sunflower seed is another favorite food. Offer them in tube feeders or small mesh feeders hung around your pine trees. Stockpile sunflower seeds in fall and winter when cold weather limits the insects and pine seeds they feed on.
You can also try offerings such as peanuts, cracked corn, and pine nuts. Platform feeders on poles or trees will accommodate these. Just get them as high up in the pines as possible. Positioning feeders to catch morning sunlight helps attract early foragers like Brown-headed Nuthatches.
Set Up Nest Boxes
One direct way to attract breeding pairs of Brown-headed Nuthatches is to install next boxes custom made for their use. Place nest boxes on pine trees within or close to pine forests before breeding season starts in spring.
Choose a next box designed specifically for smaller cavity nesters like chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice. A 1 1/8 inch diameter entrance hole is ideal. Make sure the box is made of untreated wood at least 3/4 inch thick so it mimics natural pine cavities.
Install the nest box between 15 to 30 feet high on a mature pine tree trunk. Face the entrance hole toward an open branch to provide an easy approach. Add pine shavings or wood chips inside for nesting material. Replace old nesting material after each season. Having multiple next boxes will increase your chances of attracting a breeding pair.
Provide Water Features
A fresh water source in your yard will make the habitat even more enticing for Brown-headed Nuthatches, especially during dry periods. Add a small birdbath, fountain, or dripping water system to your pine trees. Position it high enough for easy access from the branches.
Change the water every 2-3 days to prevent mosquitoes. Consider adding a couple stones or sticks as perches in the birdbath. Moving water sources such as fountains or drippers will be especially attractive.
Limit Pesticide Use
Brown-headed Nuthatches rely heavily on foraging pine bark for small insects and spiders to feed their young. Limit use of pesticides and insecticides, which reduce this vital food source. Also avoid rat poisons, as the nuthatches may ingest poisoned insects.
Practice organic lawn care and gardening. Select native flowers, shrubs, and vines known to attract insects for the birds to feed on. Milkweed, sunflowers, wild indigo, and passion vine are a few examples. The more native insects you can provide, the better habitat for the nuthatches.
Conclusion
By landscaping with mature pine trees, providing suitable foods, nesting sites, and water, you can create a welcoming backyard habitat specifically for Brown-headed Nuthatches. A little effort goes a long way in supporting these energetic little birds. Watching a pair of nuthatches actively foraging on pine branches near feeders or investigating nest boxes will bring you joy. The sound of their nasal yank-yank calls resonating through the pines lets you know your habitat efforts are paying off!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Brown-headed Nuthatches found?
Brown-headed Nuthatches are found in the southeastern United States, with their range centered on the pine forests of the Deep South. They occur from eastern Texas across the Gulf states to southern Virginia.
What is the habitat of the Brown-headed Nuthatch?
Brown-headed Nuthatches strongly prefer pine forests, especially open, mature pine woodlands with sparse understory vegetation. They rely heavily on pine trees for food, shelter, and nesting cavities.
What do Brown-headed Nuthatches eat?
Brown-headed Nuthatches eat mainly insects and spiders that they find hiding in crevices along the bark and branches of pine trees. They also eat pine seeds and will visit feeders for seeds and suet.
How can I provide food for Brown-headed Nuthatches?
Hang suet feeders filled with high fat suet specifically designed for nuthatches on pine trees. Also provide black oil sunflower seeds in tube or mesh feeders in the trees. Platform feeders stocked with peanuts, sunflower chips, cracked corn, and pine nuts can also attract them.
What are good nest boxes for Brown-headed Nuthatches?
Install a nest box designed for chickadees or nuthatches at least 15 feet high on a pine tree. The entrance hole should be 1 1/8 inches in diameter. Use untreated wood at least 3/4 inch thick. Face the entrance toward an open branch.
How can I get Brown-headed Nuthatches to use a nest box?
Make sure to place the nest box in suitable habitat before breeding season starts in spring. Add non-aromatic pine wood shavings inside the box for nesting material. Having multiple next boxes will increase your chances of attracting a pair.
When does nesting season start for Brown-headed Nuthatches?
The breeding season for Brown-headed Nuthatches typically runs from March to June. Males begin claiming nesting territories and attracting mates in March and April. Females lay eggs sometime in April to early May, with the young fledging in late May to early June.
How many eggs does the female Brown-headed Nuthatch lay?
The typical clutch size for Brown-headed Nuthatches is 5-6 white eggs sprinkled with reddish-brown speckles. The female incubates the eggs for 14 days before they hatch.
How can I identify the Brown-headed Nuthatch?
Look for the distinctive brown cap on the head that contrasts sharply with the pale blue-gray back and wings. They have a black eyeline and black bill. Compared to other nuthatches, their nasal yank-yank call is higher pitched.
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Size | 4.5 inches long with a 6.5 inch wingspan |
Coloring | Brown cap, blue-gray back and wings, white face and underparts |
Beak | Pointed black beak about 3/4 inch long |
Distinctive Markings | Thin black eyeline, brown streaking on the flanks |
Song | Nasal yank-yank calls |
When are Brown-headed Nuthatches active?
Brown-headed Nuthatches are active little birds, foraging along trunks and branches from dawn to dusk. They move almost non-stop searching for food. They are highly territorial and can be seen energetically chasing intruders while yank-yank calling loudly.
Are Brown-headed Nuthatches aggressive?
Brown-headed Nuthatches are feisty and aggressive despite their small size. They will act boldly to chase much larger birds like crows or hawks out of their territory. Females may fight viciously over prime nesting cavities.
Do Brown-headed Nuthatches migrate?
Brown-headed Nuthatches are year-round residents throughout their range in the southeastern U.S. They do not migrate, but establish permanent territories in pine woodlands. Winter groups consist of breeding pairs along with dispersing young from previous nests.
What are the threats to Brown-headed Nuthatches?
Habitat loss is the major threat. Extensive logging and removal of old pine forests reduces nesting and foraging sites. Fire suppression also degrades their habitat over time. Use of pesticides reduces the insects they feed on. Nest predation and competition limits breeding success.
What is the conservation status of Brown-headed Nuthatches?
While still fairly common, Brown-headed Nuthatch numbers are decreasing in some regions. Loss of mature open pine forests has reduced populations in the northeastern edge of their range. They are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Ongoing habitat conservation is needed.
How can I help Brown-headed Nuthatches?
Actions you can take to help Brown-headed Nuthatches:
– Landscape with native pine trees, especially tall mature pines.
– Reduce use of pesticides and insecticides.
– Install nest boxes on pine trees before breeding season.
– Supply suet feeders and seed mixes year-round.
– Provide clean fresh water sources.
– Support pine forest conservation and restoration efforts.
– Participate in nest box monitoring programs through bird conservation groups.