Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Nuthatches Western Rock Nuthatch Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae Genus: Sitta Species S. europaea S. nagaensis S. cashmirensis S. castanea S. himalayensis S. victoriae S. pygmaea S. pusilla S. whiteheadi S. ledanti S. krueperi S. villosa S. yunnanensis S. canadensis S. leucopsis S. carolinensis S. neumayer S. tephronota S. frontalis S. solangiae S. oenochlamys S. azurea S. magna S. formosa The nuthatches are a group of generally very similar small passerine birds found throughout the Northern hemisphere. The nuthatch family Sittidae traditionally contained 23 species. The subfamily Sittinae was the 22 species of “true” nuthatches, and the subfamily Tichodromadinae held a single species, the unique Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria, which is now usually separated as a separate family, Tichodromadidae. Most nuthatches are woodland birds, although a few species have adapted to rocky habitats. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees, unlike species such as woodpeckers which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet. Their shape is distinctive, and all species are recognizable as nuthatches if one has been seen. They are generally omnivorous, taking insects, nuts and seeds. Most are resident, but Red-breasted nuthatch migrates from the north of its range. Nests are in holes or crevices. In some species the size of the hole is reduced by the building of a mud wall. This group gets its name from the habit of the Eurasian Nuthatch of wedging a nut in a crevice in a tree, and then hacking at it with its strong bill. The list of species below is probably the maximum. Some taxonomists consider that some of the indicated species are in fact conspecific. White-breasted Nuthatch Family: Sittidae Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis Kashmir Nuthatch Sitta cashmirensis Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea White-tailed Nuthatch Sitta himalayensis White-browed Nuthatch Sitta victoriae Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea Brown-headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla Corsican Nuthatch Sitta whiteheadi Algerian Nuthatch Sitta ledanti Kruper's Nuthatch Sitta krueperi Chinese Nuthatch Sitta villosa Yunnan Nuthatch Sitta yunnanensis Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis White-cheeked Nuthatch Sitta leucopsis White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer Eastern Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronota Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis Yellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta solangiae Sulphur-billed Nuthatch Sitta oenochlamys Blue Nuthatch Sitta azurea Giant Nuthatch Sitta magna Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.