Pygmy nuthatch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pygmy nuthatch |
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The pygmy nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) is a very small songbird. It is only about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long and weighs around 10 grams. That's about as much as two quarters! These active birds are known for climbing headfirst down tree trunks.
Contents
What is a Pygmy Nuthatch?
Pygmy nuthatches are tiny birds. Here are their typical measurements:
- Length: 9 to 11 cm (3.5 to 4.3 inches)
- Weight: 9 to 11 grams (0.3 to 0.4 ounces)
- Wingspan: About 19.7 cm (7.75 inches)
These birds live in western North America. You can find them from southern British Columbia down through parts of the Western United States. Their home includes areas like the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Southern Rocky Mountains. They also live as far south as central Mexico.
Where Do Pygmy Nuthatches Live?
Pygmy nuthatches usually live in pine forests. They especially like ponderosa pines and Douglas-firs. They also live in other conifer trees. These birds are very acrobatic. They climb all over the branches and leaves of these trees. They look for insects and seeds to eat. Sometimes, they will also creep along the tree trunk, just like bigger nuthatches.
Pygmy Nuthatch Life Cycle
Pygmy nuthatches build their nests inside holes in dead conifer trees. They line the bottom of these holes with soft materials. This includes pine-cone scales, plant fluff, and other soft plant or animal bits. Sometimes, they even fill small cracks around the nest entrance with fur. No one is quite sure why they do this.
Eggs and Young Birds
The female pygmy nuthatch lays between 4 and 9 eggs. These eggs are white with small reddish-brown spots. The female does most of the work to keep the eggs warm. This is called incubation. It lasts for about 16 days. The baby birds, called hatchlings, leave the nest about 22 days after they hatch.
Social Life of Pygmy Nuthatches
Pygmy nuthatches are very social birds. A pair of nesting birds might even have other birds help them raise their young. These helpers are usually other pygmy nuthatches.
Outside of the time when they are raising babies, these birds travel in noisy groups. They also like to sleep together in large numbers. Over 100 birds have been seen huddled inside a single tree hole to roost!
What Do They Look Like?
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All pygmy nuthatches look pretty similar. They have a warm gray cap on their head. Their upper parts are blue-gray, and their undersides are whitish. One special feature is a small whitish spot on the back of their neck. This spot is easier to see in the summer.
Sounds They Make
Pygmy nuthatches make many different sounds. They have a wide range of chirps, peeps, and chattering calls.
This bird looks a lot like the brown-headed nuthatch. The brown-headed nuthatch lives in the southeastern United States. However, the pygmy nuthatch and the brown-headed nuthatch do not live in the same areas. So, you won't find them together.
Pygmy Nuthatches in Movies
The pygmy nuthatch was featured in the 2000 movie Charlie's Angels. In the film, one of the characters, Natalie, figures out where the bad guys are hiding. She does this by identifying the call of a pygmy nuthatch. She says these birds only live in Carmel, California. However, the bird shown in the movie was not a pygmy nuthatch. Also, pygmy nuthatches live in a much wider area than just Carmel. The bird shown in the movie was actually a Venezuelan troupial.
See also
In Spanish: Trepador enano para niños
