Today I want to share some images I’ve captured this summer of White-breasted Nuthatches visiting my backyard feeders here in western Arkansas. These energetic little birds are regulars at my feeders, and their acrobatic antics always make me smile.
All six photos in this post were taken right from my backyard deck, where I have a great vantage point for photographing my feathered friends. The nuthatches are climbing on a piece of driftwood I found down by the Arkansas River and stood up in my yard. I anchored the log into the ground and hung a suet feeder from it.
The White-breasted Nuthatch is a small songbird, about 5-6 inches in length. They have a black cap and stripe through the eye contrasting with their white face and underparts. Their backs are blue-gray. Nuthatches get their name from their habit of jamming nuts and seeds into crevices of tree bark and then whacking them with their long bills to “hatch” them open.
These acrobatic birds creep up, down, and sideways along branches and tree trunks searching for insects and seeds. Their unique climbing ability sets them apart from other backyard birds. Nuthatches will readily come to feeders for suet, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and other treats.
The White-breasted Nuthatch is a year-round resident here in Arkansas. They tend to stay in pairs or family groups and maintain territories. Their nasal yank-yank calls often give away their presence before you spot them. I love having White-breasted Nuthatches as regular visitors to my yard. Let me know in the comments if you also host these charismatic little birds!