Nuthatches at my feeder

Nuthatches are one of my favorite birds. They have the wonderful ability to walk up or down tree trunks as they search for insects to eat.

There are two types of nuthatches commonly found at backyard feeders. The first is the White-breasted Nuthatch which prefers mature deciduous woods and the second is the Red-breasted Nuthatch which prefers coniferous woods. Both will come to feeders laden with chopped nuts and sunflower seeds. Nuthatches also enjoy suet, particularly in the winter time when insects are less readily available.

The nuthatches in my yard will come zooming into the feeder, usually one or two at a time, pick up a seed and then zoom away, probably stashing the food somewhere else for later consumption. They do not seem to mind the flock of redpolls that are permanent fixtures at my feeders these days. They eat mainly from my caged feeder (caged to prevent large birds from accessing the seed) and seem to really enjoy the ingredients in our Mother Nature's Chickadee & Nuthatch mix. They also enjoy eating skinless peanuts from my peanut feeder.

I like how colorful my nuthatches are, and they are one of the birds that I watch for at the feeders. I am feeling quite blessed this year because I have had a number of these little birds coming and going from my feeders all fall.