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Honky Tonk Nuthatch


Honky Tonk Nuthatch
Photo Information
Copyright: Francine Malo (NinaM) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6596)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon 100-400mm IS USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/350 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-11-09 14:21
Viewed: 879
Points: 23
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Up here north of Montreal, it's a forest filled with evergreen trees on the most part so we don't see much White-Breasted Nuthatches around here but we are lucky to see many little ones, the Red-Breasted Nuthatches honking all day long and searching along the tree trunks for food and other little beasts they feed on. I see them go to a hole in the shed and they stick pine gum inside the hole as if it was their nest... They are also fond of niger and suet (if filled with peanuts mium mium), and they also eat the sunflower seeds. I just love the way they honk, it's so very touching.

I caught this little one close to the sunflower feeder, I think it's a juvenile because of the way the feathers are all mixed up and the other ones are not like him. He's a male, we can see the black line on the top of his head. The female doesn't show any black line on the head, only the ones crossing the eyes.

By the way, the common redpolls are doing their irruption south this year, I have seen a whole bunch of them. Youpi! One year, we've had about 250-300 of those birds to the feeders! $$$$ niger!!!

CORNELL LAB for Red-Breasted Nuthatch:

A characteristic bird of spruce and fir forests, the Red-breasted Nuthatch makes periodic irruptions out of its normal range when winter food supplies are low. During those years, it may be found along the Gulf Coast and even in the desert washes of northern Mexico.
Description
top

* Small nuthatch.
* Eyebrow white with black stripe through eye.
* Top of head black.
* Back gray.
* Underparts reddish.
* Climbs down trees headfirst.

* Size: 11 cm (4 in)
* Wingspan: 18-20 cm (7-8 in)
* Weight: 8-13 g (0.28-0.46 ounces)

Sex Differences

Top of male's head black, female's blue-gray. Female is paler underneath and has a narrower eyestripe.
Sound

Call a nasal bleating like a toy horn, series of short "annk" notes.

Conservation Status

Populations are increasing throughout most of the range.

Other Names

Sittelle du Canada, Sittelle à poitrine rousse, Le Torchepot du Canada (French)
Sita canadiense, Sitta Canadensis, Saltapolos canadiense, Trepador Canadiense (Spanish)
Canada Nuthatch (English)

Cool Facts

* The Red-breasted Nuthatch applies sticky conifer resin globules to the entrance of its nest hole. It may carry the resin in its bill or on pieces of bark that it uses as an applicator. The male puts the resin primarily around the outside of the hole while the female puts it around the inside. The resin may help to keep out predators or competitors. The nuthatch avoids the resin by diving directly through the hole.

* During nest-building, the Red-breasted Nuthatch is aggressive towards many other bird species. It will chase away nest hole competitors such as the House Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Downy Woodpecker. A particularly feisty nuthatch will also go after Yellow-rumped Warblers and House Finches. The nuthatch's aggressive tendencies subside after the nest is finished, although it remains aggressive towards potential predators and competitors.

* Red-breasted Nuthatches migrate southward earlier than many irruptive species. They may begin in early July and may reach their southernmost point by September or October.

Sources used to construct this page:

Ghalambor, C. K., and T. E. Martin. 1999. Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis). In The Birds of North America, No. 459 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
eqshannon, Alan_Kolnik, tiklod, nirmalroberts, Ena has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To glazzaro: Your suggestion makes senseNinaM 3 11-10 19:01
To Alan_Kolnik: It is flufflyNinaM 1 11-09 18:35
To eqshannon: I am happy to revive sweet memories!NinaM 1 11-09 18:02
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Critiques [Translate]

This is among the few I have strongest in my memories as a child in woody rural Ohio back in the 1940's through 1960's when I married and moved to the city. As a child alone, my brother died when I was 6, I sat all day and watched at the feeders outside and in winter in the snow...and with squirrels and rabbits and all sorts of things a child doesn't get to see as much today....I am blessed by both my good memories and images such as this which take me back in time. May you be blessed. La femme et me. Nous allons à la Masse dimanche sur la Vie de télévision. Le Basillica de Notre Dame oui ? ? I will say a prayer of thanks for your eyes in the camera!
Bob
'

I have never seen a Red Breasted Nuthatch, that is up until about 2 weeks ago and a pair landed in my yard. They stayed for each day of the 2 weeks and then departed. I was so excited to see them as we have only White Breasted Nuthatches here. I managed over 200 shots in that 2 week period. Its a beautiful bird. If you do not mind a suggestion, if your were to reduce the shadows a bit more detail would emerge. In CS 2 select Shadows and Highlights, drop by about 20-30%.

Greg

I hope one of these makes it down here (Maryland). Like Greg, I've never seen this type before. Its a good shot, perhaps a little difficult to make out some details becuase the bird seems to have balled itself up against the cold.

  • Great 
  • tiklod Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 290 W: 74 N: 875] (3397)
  • [2007-11-09 19:04]

Bonjour Francine,
Pas facile de prendre une si petite sitelle. Tu as bien réussi. Il y a une légère sous-exposition mais l'ensemble est très réussi en particulier les détails sur l'oiseau et le superbe arrière plan. Bravo!

Claude

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-11-09 20:23]

Hello Francine

A lovely little red breasted nuthatch.Nicely placed on the branch.
The lighting is a bit dark,but the plumage shows well with good definition.
These birds tend to stick to the dark areas of the woods I find.
The POV is very good.
TFS

rob

  • Great 
  • erve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 90 W: 5 N: 119] (580)
  • [2007-11-10 3:25]

hi francine. What an interesting bird, i have never seen one of these, maybe one day eh.
Nice composition, BG and good focus.

TFS

Ewan

Hi Francine,
Great capture of this beautiful bird. Sharp details. Good composition. Good POV.
TFS.
- Nirmal

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2007-11-10 15:38]

Bonjour Francine, nous c'est tout le contraire ici, on ne voit quasiment que la Sittelle à poitrine blanche. Je n'ai jamais bien photographiée la poitrine rousse. Ta photo est superbe, bien nette et bien composée ! Bravo !

Mario

Hi Francine,
yes! Your nuthacht looks like mine the differences are little.
Nice pose and compo.

Andrea

i look greats to me!

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 61 N: 591] (2458)
  • [2007-11-20 15:58]

Hello Francine,
That's a very good picture! Nice sharp details!
Best regards
Ena


*thanks for adding me as a favourite member!

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2007-12-09 12:46]

Bonjour Francine,

Bravo pour cette belle prise.La pose de l'oiseau est parfaite et les détails sont bons.
Merci pour le partage.
Joseph

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