The Nuthatch

Here are some more shots from our visit to Lemoine's Point a few weeks ago...This week I'm sharing my shots of the Nuthatch. A cute little fellow who is funny to watch come down the side of a tree...He looks like he's bent in half at times...Maybe it's to keep an eye out for predators! Anyway, he's a very cute bird and has a very distinctive chirp as well. You can hear them coming!

Here's a bit about the nuthatch, again from Wikipedia (one of my favourite sites to visit):

The nuthatches are a genus, Sitta, of small passerine birds belonging to the family Sittidae. Characterised by large heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet, nuthatches advertise their territory using loud, simple songs. Most species exhibit grey or bluish upperparts and a black eye stripe.
Most nuthatches breed in the temperate or montane woodlands of the Northern Hemisphere, although two species have adapted to rocky habitats in the warmer and drier regions of Eurasia. However, the greatest diversity is in Southern Asia, and similarities between the species have made it difficult to identify distinct species. All members of this genus nest in holes or crevices. Most species are non-migratory and live in their habitat year-round, although the North American Red-breasted Nuthatch migrates to warmer regions during the winter. A few nuthatch species have restricted ranges and face threats from deforestation.
Nuthatches are omnivorous, eating mostly insects, nuts and seeds. They forage for insects hidden in or under bark by climbing along tree trunks and branches, sometimes upside-down. They forage within their territories when breeding, but may join mixed feeding flocks at other times. Their habit of wedging a large food item in a crevice and then hacking at it with their strong bills gives this group its English name.

We are off to the Zoo tomorrow...Hopefully I'll get some shots of the baby polar bear (born Dec 2010). He just went on display the end of January, so I'm looking forward to seeing him!

Happy Family Day!