Nuthatches are small songbirds found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. They get their name from their habit of wedging nuts and seeds into tree bark and then hammering them open with their long bills. Nuthatches have very specific feeding habits and preferences when it comes to their diet. Their favorite foods provide important nutrients and energy to sustain their active lifestyles. In this article, we will explore the top foods that nuthatches love to eat.
Insects
One of the primary components of a nuthatch’s diet is insects. Nuthatches have a taste for beetles, caterpillars, ants, spiders, and other bugs. During breeding season, nuthatches rely heavily on insects to feed their chicks the protein they need to grow. Even during the winter when insects are scarce, nuthatches use their sharp bills to excavate hibernating insects from crevices in tree bark. Some of their favorite insect foods include:
- Beetles
- Caterpillars
- Ants
- Spiders
- Grubs
Nuthatches use a technique called bark gleaning to find insects on tree trunks and branches. They climb up and down tree trunks and scan the bark for signs of movement. When they spot an insect, they swiftly grab it with their bill or impale it against the bark. Their ability to move vertically on tree trunks gives them access to insects that other birds can’t reach.
Nuts and Seeds
As their name implies, nuts and seeds are a staple food for nuthatches. Their powerful bills allow them to hammer into tough nuts and seeds that other birds can’t crack open. They wedge large nuts and seeds into the crevices of tree bark and hammer away until the shell breaks open. Nuthatches will return to these “anvil sites” frequently to access the nutmeats left behind. Some of their favorite nuts and seeds include:
- Acorns
- Sunflower seeds
- Peanuts
- Pine nuts
- Hazelnuts
- Walnut pieces
Nuthatches are resourceful foragers and cache excess nuts and seeds in hiding spots on trees throughout their territory. They conceal seeds under loose bark, in knot holes, or wedged into cracks. These cached seeds provide an important winter food source when fresh food is scarce. Nuthatches have specialized spatial memory to help them remember the locations of thousands of cache sites.
Saps and Plant Foods
In addition to insects and nuts, nuthatches also consume plant saps and other vegetative foods. They use their chisel-like bills to excavate sapsuckers’ wells in tree bark to drink the sap flowing within. The sap provides an important source of sugar and carbohydrates. Nuthatches also eat flower nectar, berries, fruits, and seeds of trees like eastern red cedar and pines. Some examples of plant foods in a nuthatch’s diet include:
- Tree sap
- Flower nectar
- Berries
- Fruits
- Seeds
Consuming these plant foods provides essential vitamins and nutrients to supplement the nuthatches’ primarily insect-based diet. Saps and nectars offer quick energy in the form of sugars, while berries and seeds provide fat and proteins.
Suet and Bird Feeders
In habitats near human development, nuthatches may visit bird feeders to take advantage of offered foods. They are frequent visitors to feeders stocked with suet, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and more. Some commercial bird foods that nuthatches enjoy include:
- Suet cakes or nuggets
- Peanut butter blends
- Black oil sunflower seeds
- Cracked nuts
- Nyjer thistle
Nuthatches relish high fat suet and peanut butter. These energy-dense foods provide calories to sustain their hyperactive lifestyles. Since nuthatches are able to cache excess food, bird feeders can serve as supplementary food sources to their natural diets. Offering desired foods may encourage nuthatches to become regular backyard visitors.
Favorite Foods by Species
While all nuthatch species share a generally similar diet, some differences arise between the favorite foods of each species. Here are some notable preferences of common nuthatch species:
White-breasted Nuthatch
- Sunflower seeds
- Peanuts
- Suet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Insects
- Sunflower seeds
- Conifer seeds
Pygmy Nuthatch
- Pine seeds
- Insects
- Piñon nuts
Brown-headed Nuthatch
- Insects
- Pine seeds
- Acorns
While most nuthatch species appear to prefer insects, seeds, and nuts, their niche habitats and ranges influence the specific types of foods consumed. Offering a variety of food types will satisfy any nuthatches that visit feeders.
How Nuthatches Consume Food
Nuthatches have evolved highly specialized physical and behavioral adaptations to locate and consume their favorite foods:
- Strong feet allow them to climb vertically and hang upside down.
- Long, chisel-like bills pry into crevices and hammer through tough nuts.
- A sticky tongue helps capture insects.
- Distinctive head markings may help camouflage them against tree bark.
- Sharp claws and tails brace them against tree trunks.
- Spatial memory allows them to recover thousands of cached seeds.
Their unique abilities give nuthatches access to food sources unavailable to other backyard birds. You may observe them foraging up and down tree trunks, excavating bark for hidden insects, or repeatedly flying to a bird feeder to stash seeds for later. Watch for their acrobatic movements and dogged determination as they consume their favorite foods.
Ideal Nuthatch Feeding Habitats
Nuthatches thrive best in habitats that provide their preferred foods. Look for them in areas with:
- A variety of mature trees like oaks, pines, and hickories which produce nuts and seeds.
- Dead snags and trees with loose, scaling bark that house insects.
- Sapsucker wells that provide sap.
- Berry-producing shrubs.
- Backyard feeders with suet, peanuts, and sunflower seeds.
Ideal nuthatch habitat contains a mix of tree species of varying ages along with brushy areas. This diversity provides the best range of insects, nuts, seeds, sap, and other foods. Protecting stands of mature, nut-producing trees and snags will help support local nuthatch populations.
Key Takeaways
- Nuthatches have specialized diets consisting primarily of insects, nuts, and seeds.
- Their favorite foods include beetles, caterpillars, ants, acorns, sunflower seeds, and peanuts.
- Nuthatches use wedge beetle-like bills to excavate food from crevices and hammer through tough shells.
- They cache excess foods in hiding spots and recover them using spatial memory.
- Ideal nuthatch habitat contains mature nut- and seed-bearing trees along with dead snags.
- Backyard offerings of suet, peanuts, and sunflower seeds can supplement their natural diets.
Understanding what foods nuthatches prefer and how they forage can help bird enthusiasts better attract these quirky and energetic birds to their yards. Providing their favorite foods in suitable habitat encourages nuthatches to take up residence and become delightful backyard visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time of year do nuthatches need extra food?
Nuthatches benefit from extra food sources especially during fall and winter when natural foods are scarcest. Offering suet, nuts, and seeds from feeders can help provide the calories and fat they need to survive colder months.
What feeders are best for attracting nuthatches?
Platform feeders, suet feeders, mesh bags, and hopper feeders will all attract feeding nuthatches. Look for feeders that allow the birds to cling upside down comfortably. Squirrel baffles can help deter squirrels from monopolizing feeders.
Will nuthatches visit hummingbird feeders?
Yes, nuthatches are sometimes attracted to the sugar water in hummingbird feeders, especially during fall and winter. They will perch on the feeder ports and drink the nectar. Specialized nuthatch feeders with small perches can also deliver nectar.
How often should I clean nuthatch feeders?
To prevent mold, clean nuthatch feeders at least once every few weeks with a mild soap and water solution. Disinfect feeders periodically with a 10% bleach solution to remove salmonella and other bacteria. Rinse well after disinfecting.
What plants help attract nuthatches?
Trees like oaks, pines, hickories, and pecans provide nuts and seeds that nuthatches seek. Shrubs and trees with berries like dogwood, juniper, and sumac also help draw in nuthatches. Avoid pruning trees too aggressively to retain loose bark areas.
Conclusion
With their specialized bills and climbing abilities, nuthatches have refined feeding behaviors and preferences for particular foods. By landscaping with their favorite trees and offering enticing feeders, you can create an attractive habitat for these energetic birds. Getting to know nuthatches’ favorite foods and understanding their unique foraging strategies can help backyard birders better provide for these captivating visitors. Watching nuthatches busily harvesting their favorite nuts, seeds, and insects from trees and feeders will give any observer a glimpse into the endearing and energetic lives of these upside-down forest foragers.