NatureCounts - The State of Canada's Birds

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

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Summary Population Trends Population Goals

Distribution More species Methods Acknowledgements

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The State of Canada's Birds is presented in partnership by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada.

The White-breasted Nuthatch caches surplus food for later consumption; it hides seeds and insects in crevices in tree bark, creating a cache of provisions that it can rely on during the lean winter months. It often joins mixed flocks where it creeps up and down tree trunks or visits bird feeders in search of food, constantly chattering in nasal squeaks and honks.

Summary

National

Trend

Large Increase

Confidence: High

Goal

Within Goal Range

The White-breasted Nuthatch is an uncommon year-round resident across Canada's southern deciduous forests, although it can be locally common and conspicuous at winter bird feeders. There are approximately 570,000 individuals in Canada, which represents 6% of the global population and a low degree of responsibility for Canada. The Canadian population of White-breasted Nuthatch has shown a large increase relative to 1970. Confidence in this assessment is high because the Breeding Bird Survey and Christmas Bird Count each have only medium reliability for this species, but show similarly large population growth. The national population of White-breasted Nuthatch is within its goal range.

Migration Strategy

Resident

Canadian Responsibility

Low

Population Estimates

Breeding 570,000

Annual 570,000

Global 10,000,000

Population Trends

The best source of information on the population status of White-breasted Nuthatch is the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Although the northernmost portion of its range is poorly covered, overall reliability of the BBS is considered moderate, and better than all other available data sources. The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) offers additional data, but follows less stringent protocols. BBS data indicate a large long-term increase in abundance since the early 1970s. Increases have occurred in all Canadian Bird Conservation Regions where BBS trends are at least moderately reliable, except southcentral British Columbia, where little change has been observed. The CBC also shows a large increase in population numbers, consistent with the BBS, and boosting confidence in the assessment to high.

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Population Goals

The goal for White-breasted Nuthatch is to remain at or above its recent population level, based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Trend data show that White-breasted Nuthatch is currently within its goal range.

National

Canada

Population Goal

Maintain recent abundance

Population status relative to goal

Within Goal Range

Goal is based on Breeding Bird Survey

Designations