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White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

Bird · family Sittidae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
49 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
9 years[4]

The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a small songbird in the family Sittidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide and in the United States, and it is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[2][6][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the White-breasted Nuthatch a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a United States rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where White-breasted Nuthatch lives

NatureServe lists the White-breasted Nuthatch as native in 49 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. That covers states from Maine and Florida to Washington and California[3]. State ranks vary, and the full table is shown on this page[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5B,S5NVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: native, state rank S4WAIdaho: native, state rank S4IDMontana: native, state rank S4MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: native, state rank S5NVWyoming: native, state rank S5B,S5NWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5B,S5NSDIowa: native, state rank S5BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5BRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S3UTColorado: native, state rank S5B,S4NCONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S3DEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5B,S5NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S3B,S3NDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S3LAMississippi: native, state rank S4BMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S4GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S3BTXFlorida: native, state rank S2FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (49 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS5B,S4NSecure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS3Vulnerable
District of ColumbiaS3B,S3NVulnerable (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
FloridaS2Imperiled
GeorgiaS4Apparently Secure
IdahoS4Apparently Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5BSecure (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS3Vulnerable
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaS4Apparently Secure
NebraskaS5Secure
NevadaS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS4Apparently Secure
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS5BSecure (breeding)
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
South DakotaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS3BVulnerable (breeding)
UtahS3Vulnerable
VermontS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonS4Apparently Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS5Secure
WyomingS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records forests, woodlands, suburban areas and orchards, and riparian areas (land beside water) for this bird[10]. It is most often found in open woodlands of mature trees, mainly oak or pine, and also in forest edges, clearings and parks with scattered trees[11]. It nests in a natural tree hole, an old woodpecker hole or a bird house[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

The White-breasted Nuthatch is about 15 cm (6 in)[12] long and weighs about 21 g[13]. It eats mostly nuts and seeds in fall and winter and insects in spring and summer[14]. One estimate puts its diet at half seeds and half invertebrates[15]. A clutch is 5 to 10, commonly 8, and the young leave the nest at about 14 days[16]. The oldest known banded bird was at least 9 years 9 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[12] 15 cm (6 in)
Typical adult weight[13] 21 g (0.7 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[17] 9.8 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 9 years 9 months
Litter or clutch size[18] 8
Gestation or incubation[19] 12 days
Female maturity[20] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[21] Invertivore, Granivore
Migration[22] non-migrant, local migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[15]

  • 50% seeds
  • 50% invertebrates

When to look for it

The White-breasted Nuthatch is active during the day[23]. NatureServe describes it as a non-migrant or local migrant, and some birds may leave the northernmost range and higher elevations in winter[22][24]. On GBIF, most observation records fall in February, April and May[25]. These records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[25].

January: 1,063,564 recordsJanFebruary: 1,202,061 recordsFebMarch: 1,044,767 recordsMarApril: 1,324,927 recordsAprMay: 1,458,973 recordsMayJune: 758,705 recordsJunJuly: 708,645 recordsJulAugust: 807,447 recordsAugSeptember: 1,101,471 recordsSepOctober: 1,059,718 recordsOctNovember: 907,518 recordsNovDecember: 980,791 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[25].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,063,564
February1,202,061
March1,044,767
April1,324,927
May1,458,973
June758,705
July708,645
August807,447
September1,101,471
October1,059,718
November907,518
December980,791

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record White-breasted Nuthatch as present in 212 park units[26]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 188 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts[27]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the White-breasted Nuthatch endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][6].
Where does the White-breasted Nuthatch live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 49 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. It lives in forests, woodlands and suburban areas[10].
What does the White-breasted Nuthatch eat?
Nuts and seeds make up much of its diet, and insects too[14][15]. NatureServe says insects are the main food in spring and summer[14].
How big is a White-breasted Nuthatch?
It is about 15 cm (6 in)[12] long and weighs about 21 g[13].
How long does a White-breasted Nuthatch live?
The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 9 years 9 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[17].

Facts and sources

  1. White-breasted Nuthatch is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for White-breasted Nuthatch: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists White-breasted Nuthatch as native in 49 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild White-breasted Nuthatch from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 9 years 9 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a bird in the family Sittidae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. White-breasted Nuthatch is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe state ranks for White-breasted Nuthatch (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for White-breasted Nuthatch: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for White-breasted Nuthatch. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 15 cm (6 in). NatureServe Explorer
  13. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 21 g (0.7 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for White-breasted Nuthatch. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 50% seeds, 50% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  16. NatureServe notes on reproduction for White-breasted Nuthatch. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 9.8 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 8. AnAge
  19. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 12 days. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  21. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Granivore. NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe migration category for White-breasted Nuthatch: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe notes on migration for White-breasted Nuthatch. NatureServe Explorer
  25. GBIF observation records of White-breasted Nuthatch in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  26. NPSpecies park lists recording White-breasted Nuthatch as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  27. US states with the most GBIF observation records of White-breasted Nuthatch: New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.