Weekend Birding: White-breasted Nuthatch
The White-breasted Nuthatch is another common North American bird found through most of the US, parts of Southern Canada and Mexico. They can often be found creeping down the trunk or large branches of old trees poking at the bark searching for insects. They turn upside down on vertical surfaces and walk down the tree as they forage.
A few weeks ago I noticed a nuthatch going into a crevice in a old tree. Nuthatches nest in natural tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes. This bird was carrying insects into the crevice so I knew there were nestlings inside.
The female incubates the eggs but both parents take care of the young. It can be difficult to tell them apart because they look alike. The difference is the male has a black cap and the female’s is dark gray. I think this was the male bringing the food.
A nestling will poop every time it eats and the parents will remove it from the nest dropping it a short distance away. The waste material is contained in a “fecal sac”, a tough membrane, kind of like a diaper for birds. Here is one of the parents, I’m not sure which one, doing cleanup and exiting with a sac.
For more bird photos check out my previous Weekend Birding posts.
I link up my bird photos on Saturday Snapshot hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
Under My Apple Tree 
Love both the photos. What a bird!!
http://readbookswritepoetry.blogspot.com/2011/07/saturday-snapshot-july-2.html
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You capture the greatest bird shots! They look beautiful in their natural settings, and the tidbits you share about them are awesome. Thanks!
Here’s MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT
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Wow, I just learned a whole new set of facts about birds. I am going to show this to my 7 year old..he will be fascinated. Great photos!
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I not only love your photos, but also all the info we get about the birds as well.
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How interesting. I’m guessing it’s the mama on cleanup duty, haha.
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Hi!
Great snapshots! We have those here. They are busy little birds. Have a great day!
Sherrie
Just Books
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I like birdwatching too, but am not great at getting such fantastic photos. What an attractive and practical bird.
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That is fascinating information about how they clean up after the babies. I wouldn’t think that most birds do that.
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great shots Leslie…….you got the scoop on the poop lol
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What marvelous photos! Thanks for sharing your birding expertise.
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Great photos (as always!) and a bit of bird lore as well. Thanks for sharing!
Here’s my Snapshot: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2011/07/saturday-snapshot-july-2.html
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Beautiful! Love photographing birds!!
Here’s my Snapshot
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Your photos and explanations really make birding come to life. You should write a book!
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I have thought of making them into a calendar. Hmmm.
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I love your bird posts! Not only are your photos fabulous, but I usually learn something too.
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Great photos, great information. We have lots of these around our yard. They are wonderful to watch.
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Pretty, pretty photos!
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Thanks for all the nice comments.
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I love seeing and learning about birds from under your apple tree! I don’t comment often, but I read almost all of your posts.
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Thanks for stopping by and I’m glad you’re enjoying the birds.
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Fascinating bird!
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We had the privilege of observing the feeding and cleaning up of the poop over a two week period during our summer vacation. We watched the babies stick their heads out of the hole in the Tree-stump to be fed and then turn around and stick their little bums out for the parents to take the poop away. We have this on video. It was amazing!
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