Summary

  • Natural history: A White-breasted Nuthatch pairs for life with its mate, and the two defend the same territory together all year, tucking away food throughout that territory to live on later. Because the species cannot excavate its own home, it depends on natural hollows in snags and old woodpecker holes for nesting, so the continued aging of Vermont’s forests should keep benefiting its already-stable population.
  • Status in VT: Increased by 4% (160 to 166 blocks). Greatest increase in Northeastern Highlands.
  • Data from other research: FBMP: 6.8% (P < 0.01)
  • Conservation status: State rank S5B; S5N
  • Other atlases: NY: 3%; PA: 13%; MD: 44%; ON: 20%
  • VT’s role in North American range: VT is within the core of the range.
  • Causes of change since first Atlas: Adjust well to human presence (?); maturation of forest.
  • Management/Monitoring recommendations:No current recommendations.

Population Trends

White-breasted Nuthatch graph

First Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (1976-1981)

Species Account

Second Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (2003 – 2007)

Species Account

White-breasted Nuthatch Map 1White-breasted Nuthatch Table 1White-breasted Nuthatch Table 2

Change in Distribution

mapkeyWhite-breasted Nuthatch Map 2White-breasted Nuthatch Table 3

Links

Vermont eBird

Encyclopedia of Life

All About Birds