The brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) is a small songbirdendemic to pineforests throughout the Southeastern United States. Genetic analyses indicated low differentiation between northern and southern populations in Florida, but the study also found lower genetic diversity among south Florida populations that may be a result of the increased habitat fragmentation that was documented. The Bahama nuthatch was formerly considered a subspecies (S. p. insularis), has since been reclassified as its own separate species.[2][3] Two recent studies assessing vocalizations in Bahama and continental nuthatch populations found important differences.[4][5] One of the studies[4] also demonstrated that continental and Bahama populations did not respond aggressively to calls of the other population. This type of call-response study is often used to help define cryptic species.[6]
The bird, like other nuthatches, possesses a sharp black nail-like beak, which it uses to pound open seeds. It is a frequent visitor to feeding stations and is highly fond of sunflower seeds and suet cakes. Bold and inquisitive, this bird is readily approachable by humans.
At Ash, North Carolina
The bird is regularly observed using a small chips of bark, small twigs, and pine needles held in its beak as tools to dig for insects.[7] The nuthatch exhibits other curious behaviors such as cooperative groups where groups of 3–5 adults provide care at a single nest.[8] Recent genetic assessments suggest some of the putatively non-breeding adults associated with these groups may actually breed with individuals in neighboring territories.[9] This nuthatch also exhibits a wide range of other social behaviors that include social grooming[10] and male-female duets similar to those observed for the pygmy nuthatch.[11]
The brown-headed nuthatch has been found to prefer making their nests at the top of short snags.[12]
Despite the other species' common name, the brown-headed nuthatch is about the same size as the pygmy nuthatch and the two species are the world's smallest nuthatches. In the brown-headed nuthatch, the total length is 9–11 cm (3.5–4.3 in), wingspan is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) and body mass is 10–12 g (0.35–0.42 oz).[13][14] This species sports a brown cap with narrow black eyeline and buff white cheeks, chin, and belly. Its wings are bluish-gray in color. A small white spot is found at the nape of the neck. The bird's call is a sharp whee-hyah sounding very similar to a "rubber duck" toy and particularly is loud for a bird its size. They also make softer "pit pit pit" calls while in flight as well as other squeaking noises. If heard or seen well, this species is virtually unmistakable in the wild, since it overlaps only with the very differently marked and larger red-breasted and white-breasted nuthatches.[15]
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2016). "Sitta pusilla". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T103881613A94282209. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103881613A94282209.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Hayes, William K.; Barry, Robert X.; McKenzie, Zeko; Barry, Patricia (2004). "Grand Bahama's Brown-headed Nuthatch: A Distinct and Endangered Species" (PDF). Bahamas Journal of Science. 12 (1): 21–28.
^"Species Updates – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2021-07-28.
^ abLevy, Heather; Cox, James (2020-10-15). "Variation in responses to interspecific vocalizations among sister taxa of the Sittidae: imminent extinction of a cryptic species on Grand Bahama Island?". Avian Conservation and Ecology. 15 (2). doi:10.5751/ACE-01646-150215. ISSN 1712-6568.
^Boesman, Peter; Collar, N. J. (December 2020). "Further vocal evidence for treating the Bahama Nuthatch Sitta (pusilla) insularis as a species". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 140 (4): 393–403. doi:10.25226/bboc.v140i4.2020.a4. ISSN 0007-1595.
^Freeman, Benjamin G.; Montgomery, Graham A. (2017-10-01). "Using song playback experiments to measure species recognition between geographically isolated populations: A comparison with acoustic trait analysesUsando experimentos de reproducción de cantos para medir el reconocimiento de especies entre poblaciones geográficamente aisladas: una comparación con análisis de rasgos acústicosPlayback experiments and acoustic divergence". The Auk. 134 (4): 857–870. doi:10.1642/AUK-17-63.1. ISSN 0004-8038.
^Gray, Mary Mack; Schunke, Elliot W.; Cox, James A. (June 2016). "Tool Usage by Juvenile Sitta pusilla (Brown-headed Nuthatch)". Southeastern Naturalist. 15 (2): N12–N15. doi:10.1656/058.015.0209. ISSN 1528-7092. S2CID 88701399.
^Cox, James A.; Slater, Gary L. (March 2007). "Cooperative Breeding in the Brown-Headed Nuthatch". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 119 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1676/06-006.1. ISSN 1559-4491. S2CID 86073307.
^Han, Kin-Lan; Cox, James A.; Kimball, Rebecca T. (December 2015). "Uncommon Levels of Relatedness and Parentage in a Cooperatively Breeding Bird, the Brown-Headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 127 (4): 593–600. doi:10.1676/14-193.1. ISSN 1559-4491. S2CID 86170699.
^Cox, James A. (December 2012). "Social Grooming in the Brown-Headed Nuthatch May have Expanded Functions". Southeastern Naturalist. 11 (4): 771–774. doi:10.1656/058.011.0415. ISSN 1528-7092. S2CID 85799935.
^Benedict, Lauryn (2008). "Occurrence and life history correlates of vocal duetting in North American passerines". Journal of Avian Biology. 39 (1): 57–65. doi:10.1111/j.0908-8857.2008.04103.x. ISSN 1600-048X.
^Dornak, L. Lynnette; Burt, D. Brent; Coble, Dean W.; Conner, Richard N. (2004). "Relationships between Habitat and Snag Characteristics and the Reproductive Success of the Brown-Headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) in Eastern Texas". Southeastern Naturalist. 3 (4): 683–694. doi:10.1656/1528-7092(2004)003[0683:RBHASC]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1528-7092. JSTOR 3878029. S2CID 16849166.
^"Brown-headed Nuthatch Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology".
^. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
^"Brown-headed Nuthatch Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology".
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brown-headed Nuthatch.
Wikispecies has information related to Sitta pusilla.
- USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
Brown-headed Nuthatch Species Account – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Explore Species: Brown-headed Nuthatch at eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
at Florida Museum of Natural History
Brown-headed Nuthatch photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
May 03, 2024
brown, headed, nuthatch, brown, headed, nuthatch, sitta, pusilla, small, songbird, endemic, pine, forests, throughout, southeastern, united, states, genetic, analyses, indicated, differentiation, between, northern, southern, populations, florida, study, also, . The brown headed nuthatch Sitta pusilla is a small songbird endemic to pine forests throughout the Southeastern United States Genetic analyses indicated low differentiation between northern and southern populations in Florida but the study also found lower genetic diversity among south Florida populations that may be a result of the increased habitat fragmentation that was documented The Bahama nuthatch was formerly considered a subspecies S p insularis has since been reclassified as its own separate species 2 3 Two recent studies assessing vocalizations in Bahama and continental nuthatch populations found important differences 4 5 One of the studies 4 also demonstrated that continental and Bahama populations did not respond aggressively to calls of the other population This type of call response study is often used to help define cryptic species 6 Brown headed nuthatch In North Carolina US Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Sittidae Genus Sitta Species S pusilla Binomial name Sitta pusillaLatham 1790 Subspecies S p canicepsS p pusillaS p insularis Range of S pusilla The bird like other nuthatches possesses a sharp black nail like beak which it uses to pound open seeds It is a frequent visitor to feeding stations and is highly fond of sunflower seeds and suet cakes Bold and inquisitive this bird is readily approachable by humans At Ash North Carolina The bird is regularly observed using a small chips of bark small twigs and pine needles held in its beak as tools to dig for insects 7 The nuthatch exhibits other curious behaviors such as cooperative groups where groups of 3 5 adults provide care at a single nest 8 Recent genetic assessments suggest some of the putatively non breeding adults associated with these groups may actually breed with individuals in neighboring territories 9 This nuthatch also exhibits a wide range of other social behaviors that include social grooming 10 and male female duets similar to those observed for the pygmy nuthatch 11 The brown headed nuthatch has been found to prefer making their nests at the top of short snags 12 Despite the other species common name the brown headed nuthatch is about the same size as the pygmy nuthatch and the two species are the world s smallest nuthatches In the brown headed nuthatch the total length is 9 11 cm 3 5 4 3 in wingspan is 16 18 cm 6 3 7 1 in and body mass is 10 12 g 0 35 0 42 oz 13 14 This species sports a brown cap with narrow black eyeline and buff white cheeks chin and belly Its wings are bluish gray in color A small white spot is found at the nape of the neck The bird s call is a sharp whee hyah sounding very similar to a rubber duck toy and particularly is loud for a bird its size They also make softer pit pit pit calls while in flight as well as other squeaking noises If heard or seen well this species is virtually unmistakable in the wild since it overlaps only with the very differently marked and larger red breasted and white breasted nuthatches 15 References edit BirdLife International 2016 Sitta pusilla IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T103881613A94282209 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T103881613A94282209 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Hayes William K Barry Robert X McKenzie Zeko Barry Patricia 2004 Grand Bahama s Brown headed Nuthatch A Distinct and Endangered Species PDF Bahamas Journal of Science 12 1 21 28 Species Updates IOC World Bird List Retrieved 2021 07 28 a b Levy Heather Cox James 2020 10 15 Variation in responses to interspecific vocalizations among sister taxa of the Sittidae imminent extinction of a cryptic species on Grand Bahama Island Avian Conservation and Ecology 15 2 doi 10 5751 ACE 01646 150215 ISSN 1712 6568 Boesman Peter Collar N J December 2020 Further vocal evidence for treating the Bahama Nuthatch Sitta pusilla insularis as a species Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 140 4 393 403 doi 10 25226 bboc v140i4 2020 a4 ISSN 0007 1595 Freeman Benjamin G Montgomery Graham A 2017 10 01 Using song playback experiments to measure species recognition between geographically isolated populations A comparison with acoustic trait analysesUsando experimentos de reproduccion de cantos para medir el reconocimiento de especies entre poblaciones geograficamente aisladas una comparacion con analisis de rasgos acusticosPlayback experiments and acoustic divergence The Auk 134 4 857 870 doi 10 1642 AUK 17 63 1 ISSN 0004 8038 Gray Mary Mack Schunke Elliot W Cox James A June 2016 Tool Usage by Juvenile Sitta pusilla Brown headed Nuthatch Southeastern Naturalist 15 2 N12 N15 doi 10 1656 058 015 0209 ISSN 1528 7092 S2CID 88701399 Cox James A Slater Gary L March 2007 Cooperative Breeding in the Brown Headed Nuthatch The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119 1 1 8 doi 10 1676 06 006 1 ISSN 1559 4491 S2CID 86073307 Han Kin Lan Cox James A Kimball Rebecca T December 2015 Uncommon Levels of Relatedness and Parentage in a Cooperatively Breeding Bird the Brown Headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 127 4 593 600 doi 10 1676 14 193 1 ISSN 1559 4491 S2CID 86170699 Cox James A December 2012 Social Grooming in the Brown Headed Nuthatch May have Expanded Functions Southeastern Naturalist 11 4 771 774 doi 10 1656 058 011 0415 ISSN 1528 7092 S2CID 85799935 Benedict Lauryn 2008 Occurrence and life history correlates of vocal duetting in North American passerines Journal of Avian Biology 39 1 57 65 doi 10 1111 j 0908 8857 2008 04103 x ISSN 1600 048X Dornak L Lynnette Burt D Brent Coble Dean W Conner Richard N 2004 Relationships between Habitat and Snag Characteristics and the Reproductive Success of the Brown Headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla in Eastern Texas Southeastern Naturalist 3 4 683 694 doi 10 1656 1528 7092 2004 003 0683 RBHASC 2 0 CO 2 ISSN 1528 7092 JSTOR 3878029 S2CID 16849166 Brown headed Nuthatch Life History All About Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology The Wild Bird Store in Tucson AZ Archived from the original on 2012 05 01 Retrieved 2012 04 02 Brown headed Nuthatch Identification All About Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brown headed Nuthatch nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Sitta pusilla Brown Headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter Brown headed Nuthatch Species Account Cornell Lab of Ornithology Explore Species Brown headed Nuthatch at eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology Brown headed Nuthatch Bird Sound at Florida Museum of Natural History Brown headed Nuthatch photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brown headed nuthatch amp oldid 1192792668, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
