I was going through pictures and found this one of a pretty roughed-up Red-breasted Nuthatch.
I went to the Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America by Ted Floyd because it is the first guide I pick up when I want to know how many molts a bird goes through each year. This bird was pretty raspy looking so I wondered if it was perhaps molting.
The first thing the guide told me is that red-breasteds have only one complete molt a year, so no, I don't think it was molting. As I looked at the date on the picture, it told me the timing for a molt didn't seem right either (it was June) - many birds don't molt during breeding season because of the energy required to carry out each activity.
So I think it was probably just a kind of scruffy-looking individual, most likely a female considering the dull colors, who may have been starting to show the wear-and-tear of breeding activities.
Anyway, I got a chuckle out of some of the descriptions of the nuthatch in the Smithsonian guide. "All nuthatches are ovoid and pot-bellied..." I felt sorry for these little guys being called egg-shaped, like Humpty-Dumpty with wings! And pot-bellied too!
The guide continues, "All vocalizations nasal and petulant", which Merriam-Webster defines as "insolent or rude in speech or behavior."
Male Red-breasted Nuthatch (August)
The poor little Red-breasted Nuthatch. Defamed in such a manner and only a tin-horn yank-yank to defend its honor! So it's a little round through the middle and got a little attitude - sounds like me to tell you the truth. But these traits are why the Red-breasted Nuthatch makes it on to many birdwatcher's favorite birds list.
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Elevator shoes - me too!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | February 01, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Short and stubby-- yeah, I can relate to that!
Posted by: elevator shoes | January 29, 2012 at 11:16 AM
LBW - and a proud nuthatch you are!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | December 27, 2010 at 11:10 AM
OK, I guess I'm a nuthatch: ovoid, potbellied and nasal. And I thought it was just middle age.
Posted by: Lazy Bird Watcher | December 21, 2010 at 10:29 PM
Syl - Long live nuthatches!!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | September 07, 2010 at 08:14 PM
Nuthatches maybe on the plump side but who cares..we have the white breasted nuthatch where I live in Colorado.They are a very special bird in our yard. Have a great day and long live the Nuthatches!
Posted by: Syl Lobato | September 04, 2010 at 02:52 PM
Andrea - they are easy to approach. Hope your dog only carried it around and didn't have lunch on it!
Dawn - Long live pot bellies and ovoid-shaped people and birds!!!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | September 03, 2010 at 08:37 PM
Hee hee..Thanks for sticking up for the poor little abused Nuthatch!
Pot bellies rule!
Posted by: DawnFine | September 03, 2010 at 11:46 AM
I think she has individuality! The red-breasted nuthatches are entertaining, very trusting and the most frequent visitors to my feeders so I love them. So trusting, though, that my dog actually caught one once. :(
Posted by: andrea | September 03, 2010 at 10:45 AM