Pygmy Nuthatch

Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) is in the Nuthatches family (Sittidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 10,708 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.

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.

When to photograph Pygmy Nuthatch: observations by month (U.S.)

About Pygmy Nuthatch

The pygmy nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) is a tiny songbird, about 10 cm (4 inches) long and about 10 grams in weight. It ranges from southern British Columbia south through various discontinuous parts of the western U.S. (northwest U.S., Sierra Nevada range, southern Rockies, etc.), to central Mexico. It is usually found in pines (especially ponderosa pines), Douglas-firs, and other conifers. Pygmy nuthatches clamber acrobatically in the foliage of these trees, feeding on insects and seeds; less often they creep...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Pygmy Nuthatch by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Nuthatches)

White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis

Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis

Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla

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