Red-breasted Nuthatch

I glanced out our front window and saw this visitor this morning!

We’re used to seeing white-breasted nuthatches, but the red-breasted nuthatch is a bird we’ve only begun to see since late summer here. As usual, I’m not sure if it’s that they haven’t been around, or that we haven’t been looking.

I love the blush of color and the eyestripe. It comes and goes like lightning, so I was tickled to get some pictures. They would be improved with a little sunshine (and no reflections from the window glass), but we’ll take what we can get. Smile, Little Bird!

It’s smaller than the white-breasted nuthatch, and perhaps not quite as aggressive. The white-breasted sometimes expands to twice its usual size to intimidate other birds when it’s on the suet, but this little bird darts in and darts out and minds its own business.