Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) is in the Nuthatches family (Sittidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 10,440 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
Conservation status (iNaturalist): G4.
When to photograph Brown-headed Nuthatch: observations by month (U.S.)
About Brown-headed Nuthatch
The brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) is a small songbird found in pine forests throughout the Southeastern United States. Genetic analyses indicated low differentiation between northern and southern populations in Florida. A population on the Bahamas showed moderate to high differentiation compared with Florida populations. The Bahama nuthatch was and still is considered a subspecies (S. p. insularis) by several authorities including the IOC, but the IUCN and BirdLife International have reclassified it as its own separate...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Brown-headed Nuthatch by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 2,260 | January | Dec–Jun |
| North Carolina | 2,042 | April | Dec–Oct |
| Georgia | 1,271 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Florida | 1,219 | March | Sep–Jun |
| Alabama | 1,019 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Virginia | 521 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Maryland | 515 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Texas | 491 | April | Dec–Jun |
| Mississippi | 337 | January | Sep–May |
| Louisiana | 212 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Delaware | 191 | January | Dec–Oct |
| Tennessee | 191 | January | Aug–Jun |
| Arkansas | 118 | March | Mar–May |
| Oklahoma | 20 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Missouri | 13 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Kentucky | 10 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Kansas | 5 | October | Oct–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Nuthatches)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Brown-headed Nuthatch?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from December to November.
Where is Brown-headed Nuthatch most often seen?
The most observations come from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia.