Brown-headed Nuthatch
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Cavity Nester ⌀ 1.25" Small

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Sitta pusilla

Tiny, pine-loving nuthatch of the American Southeast with a soft brown cap and a high squeaky 'rubber-duck' call. One of the few North American birds known to use a tool, wielding a bark flake to pry up other bark.

IUCN Red List
Least Concern

Widespread and abundant; no known immediate threats to the population.

Floor
4" × 4"
Interior height
8"
Entrance hole
⌀ 1.25"
Mount height
5–15 ft
Breeds
Mar–Jun
Broods / yr
1–2
Cool Facts

Things you didn't know about the Brown-headed Nuthatch

01

One of fewer than a dozen North American bird species ever documented using a tool, they hold a bark flake in the bill to pry up other pieces of bark in search of insects.

02

Cooperative breeders. The breeding pair is often joined by helper birds (usually their offspring from prior years) that assist with feeding nestlings.

03

Their call is a high, squeaky two-note phrase that birders famously compare to a rubber duck.

04

Tied almost entirely to mature southern pine forests, especially the imperiled longleaf pine ecosystem.

Range & Habitat

Where you'll find them

Resident in the southeastern US pine belt from Delaware south through Florida and west to eastern Texas.

By region
  • Southeast Coast

    Common year-round in pine forests from Virginia through Florida and along the Gulf Coast.

  • Inland Southeast

    Breeds through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and eastern Texas wherever mature pines persist.

southern pine forests longleaf pine loblolly pine
10-year local observation heatmap. Click a season above to isolate one band.
Fledgemade Kit

The right house for the Brown-headed Nuthatch

Size S

Small body + 1¼" panel

Body sized to 4"×4" floor. The 1¼" panel locks out larger nest competitors while letting the Brown-headed Nuthatch pass cleanly.

Multi-color presets
Color
Entrance hole size
$39
Customize colors - +$5
Seasonal Care

When to install. When to clean.

Install by
By mid-February
Cleaning
Empty between broods; final clean September
Winter use
Yes, overnight roosts
Southeast US
Resident; install by February in the Deep South for early breeders.

Cooperative breeders, adult helpers from previous broods often assist.