Kleiber: Appearance, singing & Co.

What does the nuthatch look like? When does it breed and what does it eat? In our profile you will find out everything you need to know about the nuthatch.

The nuthatch (Sitta europaea) is a very interesting contemporary with many special properties. So it's no wonder that it was named "Bird of the Year" in 2006. The nuthatch is often seen on tree trunks and branches, moving nimbly along to peck insects out of crevices in the bark. It is similar to the treecreeper in this behavior, but unlike this - and many other birds - the nuthatch can not only climb up the tree, but also climb back down head first. It also combines other characteristics of other species: Thanks to the combination of a tit-like shape and a strong beak, the used to open seeds and nuts with a loud, woodpecker-like knock, the nuthatch is also known by the nickname "woodpecker tit". famous. For more information on size, song and habitat, see our nuthatch profile here.

Fact sheet of the nuthatch

size	Up to 14 cm
Weight	Up to 20g
breeding season	April May
lifespan	Up to 7 years
habitat	Forests, parks, groves, large and wild gardens
feed preference	Insects, spiders, nuts and seeds
threats	Dwindling nesting and food supply

How to recognize the nuthatch

A nuthatch is about the size of a great tit and of similar stature - except for the long, pointed beak. Its back and elytra are blue-grey in color, contrasting with its light, brown-red belly. Like an extension of the dark beak, a black eye stripe, which is accentuated by white cheeks, also extends to the base of the wings.

How does the nuthatch sing?

Overhearing a nuthatch is almost impossible. Its penetrating bird call echoes loudly through the forest. In addition to numerous calls ranging from sharp whistles to a trill, the nuthatch possesses a chant consisting of a stanza of rising or falling clear sounds: "wih-wih-wih".

The song of the nuthatch sounds like this:

How do you recognize the young birds?

The young birds of the nuthatches are not difficult to recognize, since they already look very similar to the adult animals. The eye stripe is not yet quite as dark and the belly is less reddish, but overall a young nuthatch can be identified without a doubt.

How do you recognize nuthatch eggs?

The nuthatch lays six or seven eggs per nest. These are about two centimeters in size, white and dotted with reddish spots. The eggs are laid in the brood cavity on a pad made of pieces of bark, grass and feathers. Scots pine bark discs are often used for this, although these are rarely found near the nest site.

How do you distinguish nuthatch females and males?

Nuthatch females differ only slightly from their male counterparts. The typical distinguishing feature here are the chestnut-brown flanks, which are typical for the males, which in the females are only colored in the same light brown-red as the belly.

What is the ideal habitat of the nuthatch?

The ideal habitat for the nuthatch is a deciduous or mixed forest. However, the songbird also feels at home in a human environment – ​​as long as there is enough old stock of trees available. These include parks, avenues and also large, wild gardens.

Where does the nuthatch build its nest?

As cave breeders, the nuthatch is dependent on old trees with natural tree cavities. Old woodpecker holes are also very often used and "renovated", because the nuthatch closes its own to protect itself from nest robbers Cave entrance wide enough to just fit through, using clay and small clods of earth to wrap around the opening firmly. This process is also known as "sticking", which means something like "sticking" and gave the nuthatch its name.

When is the nuthatch breeding season?

Female nuthatches lay their eggs between mid and late April. The young birds hatch after about two weeks of incubation and are then fed lots of insects by both parents. After about 24 days they leave the nest and attempt to fly. At this stage they are particularly vulnerable to predators such as corvids or birds of prey. A second brood follows only very rarely.

What do nuthatches do in winter?

Nuthatches can be observed in Germany all year round and the breeding pairs stay together in their territories even in winter. There they set up a number of hiding places in the late year, in which they collect nuts, acorns and beechnuts, so that they can secure their supply in the cold winter months. The supplies are hidden in tree cracks, camouflaged with lichen or moss and vehemently defended.

This is how you can support the nuthatch

Although nuthatches are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves in winter, there are many small measures that can make life easier for the native birds. Although nuthatches still have a stable population in Germany, they lack a natural habitat due to the small proportion of deciduous and mixed forests. By offering additional food or nesting boxes, you can support the animals and give them a new home in your own garden.

What do nuthatches eat?

In summer, nuthatches feed mainly on insects and spiders, which they peck out of the bark along tree trunks and branches with their pointed beak. In winter, on the other hand, they are vegetarian and rely on nuts and seeds. If you want to feed in winter, you should therefore fatty food or reach for pure nuts, such as peanuts. But sunflower seeds are also a high-energy treat for Kleiber. Our plants Sunflower seeds for wild birds are ideal for winter feeding, for example - they come without a shell and are therefore easy for the birds to eat. This also reduces the amount of rubbish at the feeding station, in the garden or on the balcony.

Tip: You can find valuable information on the design, cleaning and positioning of a suitable feeding place in our article "Build your own bird feeder“.

Which nest boxes are suitable for nuthatches?

As cave breeders, nuthatches prefer nesting boxes that are closed all around and the entry hole should have a diameter of 32 millimeters. However, since nuthatches have the habit of narrowing their burrow openings, they may also occupy nest boxes that are actually intended for larger birds.

Tip: In our special article on the subject, we have put together a number of important tips that you should know when buying or construction of a nest box as well as during its installation and maintenance.

How can you provide Kleiber with additional support?

Anyone who supports the protection of oak and beech forests also protects the natural habitat of the nuthatch. Unfortunately, there is a continuous decline in these old tree populations, which also threatens many other animal species. In addition to the nesting opportunities, the food supply is also dwindling due to insect mortality. It is therefore advisable to avoid chemical sprays as much as possible, which are responsible for part of this decline. If you also want to bring a little more life into your garden, you can with the help of our Plantura beneficial insect magnets create a paradise for a large number of insects, which of course also benefits the feathered garden visitors.

More tips for designing one insect friendly garden, about which not only the nuthatch, but also robin, jay and Co. can be found here.