Friday Bird Blogging: Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted nuthatches are smaller than the white-breasted, with a very clear black band across the eye and, as their name suggests, come with strong red across their chest. The White-breasted variety also have red on their chest, but it's broken red with lots of white mixed in. The red-breasted are much more vivid and clear.

Red-breasted nuthatches are one of those birds we hear about from time to time that uses tools. Per Cornell:

The Red-breasted Nuthatch applies sticky conifer resin globules to the entrance of its nest hole. It may carry the resin in its bill or on pieces of bark that it uses as an applicator. The male puts the resin primarily around the outside of the hole while the female puts it around the inside. The resin may help to keep out predators or competitors. The nuthatch avoids the resin by diving directly through the hole.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of them throughout the winter.