Songbird Saturday: Nuthatch

It’s more than likely you’ve heard the striking call of the Nuthatch and didn’t realise who was making this incredible sound.

Resembling a small, plump woodpecker, the beautiful Great Tit-sized Nuthatch is one of our most recognisable woodland birds, thanks to its distinctive colours and markings – blue-grey on top and whitish below, with orange-buff sides and under-tail, with a bandit-mask-esque black stripe on its head. If this wasn’t clue enough, this short-legged bird with a dagger-like bill is the only UK bird able to climb down trees headfirst, holding on with its powerful toes.

However, this is if you’re lucky enough to see one; while happily a conservation success story, thanks in part to woodland management, this green-listed bird spends much of its time foraging for insects, seeds and nuts high up in the tree canopy, so it can be tricky to spot. That said, the Nuthatch does venture into gardens and parks from time to time and is a delight to catch sight of, its quick darting movements quite hypnotic.

The Nuthatch will often start singing as early as February but this peaks in March and April, as they establish territories and pair up, to become one of the most prominent songs in the spring woodland. As with other birds, early morning is the time when vocal activity is at its greatest, as birds flex their pipes to attract mates. Using holes in trees, abandoned nests and nestboxes, they start breeding in April and can lay up to 13 eggs in each clutch! 

Since the Nuthatch is a resident, it can be heard year-round, defending territory in autumn and winter with their “dweep” contact calls.

Their song is loud, repetitive and rhythmic – a series of piping “twee, twee, twee” notes – accentuated by their tendency to sing from very high in the canopy to make their call carry. The sound has a slight metallic quality to it, especially when compared to the softer melodies of other songbirds, but is not harsh or unpleasant, rather a celebration of the season and a jubilant appeal for a partner to share it with.

Nuthatch call at a glance:

WHEN: Typically starting in February, but peaking in March and April

WHERE: Primarily mature woodlands, but can sometimes be seen in gardens and parks

WHAT: A loud, rhythmic and repetitive series of long, piping “twee twee twee” notes in spring, with “dweep” contact calls year-round.