Pygmy Nuthatch

Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea

The Pygmy Nuthatch is a songbird with preference for long-needled, open pine forests, especially older ponderosa pine forests. It is a small bird reaching only 9-11 cm (3.5-4.3 in), about a full 2 cm (1 in) smaller than other nuthatches. These birds are found year round in patchy ranges of the western North American continent. They eat insects and seeds, and will cache seeds all year, saving them by hammering the seed into crevices or under flakes of bark.

Unlike most other songbirds, the Pygmy Nuthatch breeds in large extended-family groups, and have nest helpers. These helpers, relatives and grown offspring, help defend the nest and feed the incubating females and chicks. Pygmy nuthatches do not roost alone, with one observation sighting 150 of these birds in a single roost hole. During the cold nights and after breeding season, these birds will huddle with other pygmy nuthatches in their tree cavity nest. The roost site changes to accommodate seasonal weather variations. A summer, breeding site generally has a larger entrance hole near branches, whereas a winter, non-breeding site will have a small hole, but larger space within to allow more birds inside.