White-breasted Nuthatch

birds · tree climbers · North America

Upside-down expert. White-breasted nuthatches can walk straight down tree trunks and branches head-first, which most other birds cannot do. Their special feet and strong grip let them hunt for insects and seeds in places other birds can't reach.

Striped plumage. Males have a sleek black crown on top of their head, while females wear a dark gray crown instead. Both sexes show off light blue-gray backs and whitish undersides with a peachy-reddish tinge on their belly.

Small but mighty. These birds are only about 6 inches long, making them medium-sized nuthatches, but they're super active and energetic hunters.

Color varies by location. Depending on where white-breasted nuthatches live across North America, their colors can look slightly different, but they're always recognizable by their distinctive black and white patterning.