looduskalender.ee

The nuthatches that didn’t move southwards are very true to their locations and check their territories throughout the whole year. They often move together with groups of tits. There is a little more daylight now, and nuthatches are letting themselves be heard.

 

Characteristic in their exterior are the black eye streak and the long and strong beak. The male and female look similar. A streamlined body shape, short tail, the back is bluish-grey, the underparts white and the sides of the belly and the underside of the tail are rust red. They move very skilfully on tree trunks, up as well as down, with the head downwards.

Insect eaters for the greater part of the year, but manage successfully through winter on seeds, and pick happily at chunks of lard hanging on a string. At the bird feeder they fill the beak with seeds and some of those get hidden in bark crevices of deciduous trees – good times may come to an end.