Eurasian Nuthatch

Slate-blue upperparts, a bold black eye-stripe, white throat and cheeks, and varying underparts ranging from buff-white to rich orange-chestnut depending on the subspecies. Sexes are similar, though males often have richer rufous flanks.

Blue-grey upperparts, stark black eye-stripe running through the eye, white throat, and distinctive habit of moving head-first down tree trunks.

Length: 14 cm (5.5 in), Wingspan: 22-24 cm, Weight: 17-25 g

A loud, clear, echoing series of whistled notes, often 'dwip' or 'huy-huy-huy'.

Insects, spiders, and invertebrates during summer; seeds, nuts, and beech mast in autumn and winter. Known to wedge large nuts into bark crevices to hammer them open.

Mature deciduous and mixed broad-leaved woodlands, parks, and large mature gardens with old trees.

Non-migratory resident bird, generally staying within its established territory year-round.

Nests in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes, frequently reducing the entrance size with a wall of mud. Lays 6 to 9 eggs, incubated solely by the female.

Corsican Nuthatch and Rock Nuthatch, distinguished by geographic range, head markings, and specific underpart coloration.

Helps control insect populations by preying on wood-boring beetles and caterpillars, and provides nesting cavities for secondary cavity users.

Least Concern (LC), with a stable or increasing population trend.

Listen for their loud, clear calling or whistling in deciduous or mixed woodlands. Attract them to garden feeders using sunflower seeds or peanuts.

The name 'nuthatch' comes from 'nut-hack', referring to their behavior of hacking or hammering nuts open with their strong bills after wedging them into crevices.