Gray-headed nuthatch

The Brown-headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla, is a small songbird found in pine forests throughout the Southeastern United States. An endangered population occurs in the pineyards of Grand Bahama; some authorities consider it to represent a separate species, S. insularis. 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.

The Gray-headed nuthatch is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

gray-headed nuthatch, not because it has grown gray with old age, and not because its head is very decidedly gray at that, but because the keen eyes of its describer have noted this and other minor differences. Outram Bangs (1898) gives it the following subspecific characters: "Size smaller than S. More

The gray-headed nuthatch is recorded by Arthur H. Howell (1932) as "an abundant resident in northwestern Florida; moderately com- mon in the central and southern parts." It has been taken at least as far south as Miami. Its home is in the extensive open pine forests of the State, known as the "flatwoods. More

Order : Passeriformes
Family : Sittidae
Genus : Sitta
Species : pusilla
Authority : Latham, 1790