White-Breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
With head and bill slightly raised, even from seemingly impossible perches, few birds are as recognizable in profile as the White-Breasted Nuthatch.
White-Breasted Nuthatches creep along trunks and large branches, usually with head downward. We find these birds across most of the USA plus parts of Mexico and Canada. While their Red-Breasted cousins often excavate their own nest holes, these birds prefer to exploit the hard work of other birds, using abandon cavities to raise their young.
Breeding pairs will spend time together year-round and often mate for life. Science once believed these birds were conspecific to the White-Cheeked Nuthatch of the Himalayas, but studies have shown this is not the case. There are ten recognized subspecies of this bird ranging across North America.

White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Santa Margarita River Trail near Fallbrook, California. North San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:01 9:38 |
Location:
Santa Margarita Trail |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X5451-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Santa Margarita River Trail near Fallbrook, California. North San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:01 9:38 |
Location:
Santa Margarita Trail |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X5460-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Santa Margarita River Trail near Fallbrook, California. North San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:01 9:43 |
Location:
Santa Margarita Trail |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X5487-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Fulmor Lake area. Images from the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:29 10:59 |
Location:
Fulmor Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD1532.WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: At "The Springs" on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:09 18:49 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/25 |
File Name: JCD2093-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2011 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Wildlife I met while camped at Dos Picos Park in Ramona California USA 2008-06-13. |
Date Taken: 2008:06:13 6:28 |
Location:
Dos Picos Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD6698WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Classic Huthatch pose. Dos Picos County Park. Ramona, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:06:13 6:28 |
Location:
Dos Picos Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 |
File Name: JCD6710WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2008 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Dos Picos County Park. Ramona, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:06:13 6:34 |
Location:
Dos Picos Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD6725WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Classic Huthatch pose. Dos Picos County Park. Ramona, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:06:14 8:14 |
Location:
Dos Picos Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: JCD6913WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2008 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Santa Rosa Mountain, Southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2004:07:26 8:35 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 490 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: JCD_7320WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Santa Rosa Mountain, Southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2004:07:31 11:46 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: JCD_7875WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Rustler Park near the higher elevations of the Chiricahua Mountains. South Eastern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:27 13:00 |
Location:
Cave Creek |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/45 |
File Name: JCD_1062WhiteBreastedNuthatch |
© 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Gardner Canyon. East Side Of The Santa Rita Mountains, North Of Sonoita, Southern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:06 9:06 |
Location:
Gardner Canyon |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_0441WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Santa Rosa Mountain, southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:05 15:33 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X9734-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Santa Rosa Mountain, southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:05 15:15 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X9653-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:13 10:07 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X3981-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: At the Touvelle State Recreation Area, Rogue Valley Game Management Area, near Eagle Point, Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:29 15:13 |
Location:
TouVelle State Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729787-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: The Visitor Center in the community of Laguna Mountain, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:03:11 11:52 |
Location:
Mount Laguna |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X7073-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Camped with the San Diego Natural History team near Campo California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2017:10:27 7:20 |
Location:
Clover Flat |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WhiteBreastedNuthatch_D5X5837-CloverFlats |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Camped with the San Diego Natural History team near Campo California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2017:10:27 7:20 |
Location:
Clover Flat |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WhiteBreastedNuthatch_D5X5820-CloverFlats |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 8:28 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X5663-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:07 8:26 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X5640-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Santa Rosa Mountain, southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:05 15:34 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X9746-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Santa Rosa Mountain, southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:05 15:37 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X9765-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Resident bird found along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 10:38 |
Location:
Garner Valley |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1539-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Poway, Cailifornia. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:09 16:57 |
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X4492-WhiteBreastedNuthatch |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Lower slopes of Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:09:12 11:44 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X8985-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Lower slopes of Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:09:12 11:42 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X8969-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Lower slopes of Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:09:12 11:39 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X8966-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:24 8:46 |
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X8196-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Jerry and I enjoyed our Friday visit to the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico so much, we returned on Monday to the bosque, as locals call it. We watched this White-Breasted Nuthatch harvest moths from bark crevices as we explored our way along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:18 10:17 |
Location:
Tingley Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: WhiteBreastedNuthatch_D508468-TingleyBeach-ABQ |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Jerry and I enjoyed our Friday visit to the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico so much, we returned on Monday to the bosque, as locals call it. We watched this White-Breasted Nuthatch harvest moths from bark crevices as we explored our way along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:18 10:17 |
Location:
Tingley Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: WhiteBreastedNuthatch_D508479-TingleyBeach-ABQ |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Jerry and I enjoyed our Friday visit to the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico so much, we returned on Monday to the bosque, as locals call it. We watched this White-Breasted Nuthatch harvest moths from bark crevices as we explored our way along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:18 10:18 |
Location:
Tingley Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: WhiteBreastedNuthatch_D508531-TingleyBeach-ABQ |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: William Heise Park on the western slopes of the Laguna Mountains near Julian. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:06:28 10:00 |
Location:
William Heise Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD0287-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: Resident bird found along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 10:55 |
Location:
Garner Valley |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1609-WhiteBreastedNutHatch |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) |
Description: White-Breasted Nuthatches seem to be present here at any time of the year. The Rio Grande Nature Center is one of my favorite locations to visit when I’m in Albuquerque. This was my first winter visit, and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:17 11:17 |
Location:
Rio Grande Nature Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: WhiteBreastedNuthatch_D5X7760-RioGrandeNatureCenter-ABQ |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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