Coastal Carolina

Sitta canadensis HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 4 inches * Straight gray bill * Black crown and eyeline with white supercilium * White lower face and throat * Blue-gray upperparts * Reddish underparts * Short tail * Sexes similar but female duller * Feeds by hopping along tree trunks and branches often hanging upside down * Most often found in pine trees Similar species: Because of its unique feeding strategy, the Red-breasted Nuthatch is most likely to confused with other nuthatches. White-breasted Nuthatch lacks a black eyeline and has mostly white underparts. Brown-headed and Pygmy Nuthatches have brown caps, white patches on the nape and lack the eyelines.

Full_View

Sitta carolinensis HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 5 inches * Straight gray bill * Black crown and nape * White face and underparts * Blue-gray upperparts * Rusty undertail coverts * Short tail * Sexes similar but female duller * Feeds by hopping along tree trunks and branches often hanging upside down Similar species: Because of its unique feeding strategy, the White-breasted Nuthatch is most likely to confused with other nuthatches. Red-breasted Nuthatch has a black eyeline and reddish underparts. Brown-headed and Pygmy Nuthatches have brown caps and a white patch on the nape. Red-breasted, Pygmy and Brown-headed Nuthatches are mostly found in pines while the White-breasted prefers deciduous trees.

Full_View