Upside Down
White-breasted Nuthatch (male)
By: Pat Coate
My husband and I are fond of walking along the Allegany River Trail. He’s a birder by marriage only, though he has become quite adept at identifying “green-headed ducks” (aka mallards) on the river. On one of our walks we had (at least I had) the pleasure of watching a pair of white-breasted nuthatches working the woods along the trail. These are one of a few birds that will move down a tree headfirst. And unlike woodpeckers or brown creepers, their tail is short and not used for support while climbing or foraging.
White-breasted Nuthatch – Nature’s Gymnast?
What flexibility – I remember a picture of my sister from high school in a pose like this on the balance beam.
White-breasted nuthatch fun fact:
A group of nuthatches is called a jar (who makes these up?).
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Guest post by Pat Coate on White-breasted Nuthatch.
Excellent-yank, yank, I love these fellows! I didn’t know that about the jar!
15 April 2010 at 8:09 am
Excellent post and photos! But now I feel a little dizzy. This bird would drive me nuts if he/she were outside my window! 😀
22 April 2010 at 10:28 pm