Distinctive with its ability to walk head first down tree trunks and undersides of branches, the White-breasted Nuthatch is more frequently found in broad-leafed forests and at lower elevations than other smaller species of nuthatches. It feeds on insects and spiders gleaned from bark, but during the winter it also savors nuts, acorns and seeds. A regular participant in mixed species feeding flocks, this species is one of the most obvious members. The nest is in a small tree cavity or abandoned woodpecker hole.
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Distinctive in its ability to walk down tree trunks head first, the small Red-breasted Nuthatch is readily identified. It occurs in mature coniferous forest and high altitude aspens where it feeds on insects from the bark and, during the winter, on pine cone seeds. Its nest is in a cavity dug out of a rotting branch or stump.
Small flocks of this noisy and curious nuthatch roam pine forests, often in the company of woodpeckers, chickadees and warblers. In winter the Pygmy Nuthatch often roosts at night in small groups in the same tree cavity. The nest is a tree cavity lined with plant material, hair and feathers. Food consists of insects, spiders and pine cone seeds.