Habitat

Year-Round Range

Generally mature deciduous woodland, but also mixed deciduous and coniferous forest; occasionally in residential areas (Cadman et al. 1987, Peck and James 1987, Root 1988). In Arkansas, most abundant in woodlands with uneven-aged tree stands and heavily thinned understory (Rodewald and Smith 1998). Usually avoids boreal coniferous forest, where it is replaced by the Red-breasted Nuthatch, although occasional nests are found there (Peck and James 1987; Andrle and Carroll 1988). Across 12 hemlock stands differentially infested by the hemlock-killing woolly adelgid, this nuthatch was most abundant in stands with highest hemlock mortality (>60%; Tingley et al. 2002). In British Columbia (Campbell et al. 1997), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests are preferred breeding habitat, at elevations 300-1200 m. In Quebec (Lanoue and Rail 1996), most prevelant (reported in > 60% of sampled squares) in sugar maple/hickory, basswood, and birch forests; rare or missing from coniferous (spruce/fir) forest.

Favors woodland edges over more central locations, preferring open areas (water, roads, clearings, fields) near the nest (Peck and James 1987). In s. California, “casual in the desert lowlands [fall and winter]...breeds in a variety of montane woodlands…over much of its range the presence of some oaks seems to be a requirement” (Garrett and Dunn 1981). In Mexico (Howell and Webb 1995), confined to montane woodlands of semi-humid pine and pine-oak, 1500-3500 m elevation.

Pygmy Nuthatch occupies mixed pine forest; Brown-headed Nuthatch occurs in oak-hickory-pine forest, southern mixed forest, and the swamp forest of the Mississippi valley (Root 1988). Eurasian Nuthatch inhabits both deciduous and coniferous forests (VVP), and reaches the highest densities in mature forest with large, old trees and well-developed canopies (Matthysen 1998).