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The nuthatches are a family, Sittidae, of generally very similar small passerine birds found throughout the Northern hemisphere.
The nuthatch family, Sittidae, traditionally contained 23 species. The subfamily Sittinae held the 22 species of
“true” nuthatches, and the subfamily Tichodromadinae held a single species, the unique Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria, which is now separated in its own family, Tichodromadidae.
Most nuthatches are woodland birds, although a few species have adapted to rocky habitats. They have the unusual ability to
climb down trees, unlike species such as woodpeckers which can only go
upwards.
Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet. Their shape is distinctive, and all species are
recognizable as nuthatches if one has been seen.
They are generally omnivorous, taking insects, nuts and seeds. Most are resident, but the Red-breasted Nuthatch migrates from the north of its range.
Nests are in holes or crevices. In some species the size of the hole is reduced by the building of a mud wall.
This group gets its name from the habit of the Eurasian
Nuthatch of wedging a nut in a crevice in a tree, and then hacking at it with its strong bill.
The list of species below, all in the genus Sitta, is probably the maximum. Some taxonomists consider that some of
the indicated species are in fact conspecific.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Family: Sittidae
- Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea
- Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Sitta nagaensis
- Kashmir Nuthatch,
Sitta cashmirensis
- Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Sitta castanea
- White-tailed
Nuthatch, Sitta himalayensis
- White-browed
Nuthatch, Sitta victoriae
- Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta
pygmaea
- Brown-headed
Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla
- Corsican Nuthatch, Sitta whiteheadi
- Algerian Nuthatch, Sitta ledanti
- Krüper's
Nuthatch, Sitta krueperi
- Chinese Nuthatch,
Sitta villosa
- Yunnan Nuthatch,
Sitta yunnanensis
- Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
- White-cheeked
Nuthatch, Sitta leucopsis
- White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta
carolinensis
- Western Rock Nuthatch, Sitta neumayer
- Eastern Rock
Nuthatch, Sitta tephronota
- Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Sitta
frontalis
- Yellow-billed
Nuthatch, Sitta solangiae
- Sulphur-billed Nuthatch, Sitta oenochlamys
- Blue Nuthatch, Sitta
azurea
- Giant Nuthatch, Sitta
magna
- Beautiful Nuthatch, Sitta formosa
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