Pygmy Nuthatch

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Pygmy Nuthatch
The Pygmy Nuthatch is a small, social and noisy nuthatch of western forests. The Pygmy Nuthatch is one of only two nuthatch species in the world known to have helpers at the nest. Offspring from previous years help their parents raise young. Unique among songbirds, the Pygmy Nuthatch uses three energy-saving mechanisms on cold nights: it uses a protected roost site (hole in a tree), huddles with other nuthatches (sometimes with more than 100 in a single cavity), and lets its body temperature drop (hypothermia).

The Pygmy Nuthatch can be found from southern British Columbia southward through the mountains to central Mexico, eastward to Black Hills of South Dakota. The Pygmy Nuthatch prefers mature pine forests with dead trees and snags, especially those containing ponderosa and similar long-needled pines.
Pygmy Nuthatch Range Map

The Pygmy Nuthatch forages in pines, throughout the entire tree. It gleans from foliage, probes in cracks and open pinecones, pries into crevices, and scales off loose bark. It also wedges seeds into cracks in wood or bark and pecks the seeds open. The Pygmy Nuthatch's winter diet consists of seeds, mostly pine seeds and it's summer diet is mainly insects and spiders. The Pygmy Nuthatch readily eats suet and sunflower seeds at bird feeders.

The Pygmy Nuthatch nests in tree cavities and will use a nuthatch house. The nest consists of bark shreds, moss, grass, fur, feathers, and other soft material.

The Pygmy Nuthatch's calls are shrill piping notes, "pip-pip--pip-pip-pip" as well as high chipping and squeaky notes.

Visit Shaw Creek Bird Supply to see our selection of Nuthatch Houses.