| Group | Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches and Creeper |
| Code | ABPAZ01020 |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Sittidae |
| Author | Latham, 1790 |
| Rank | G5 (definitions) |
| Occurrence | P (definitions) |
| Scale | C (definitions) |
| Western UP | all |
| Eastern UP | all |
| Northern LP | all |
| Southern LP | all |
Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes
(Oak (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
or (Assorted Hardwoods (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
or (Northern Hardwoods (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
or (Mixed Upland Hardwoods (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
containing:
(Snags or Living Cavity Trees)
view decision rule term definitions
| Habitats | Regen | Sap | Pole | Sm Saw | Lg Saw | Uneven |
| Aspen | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Paper Birch | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Oak | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Assorted Hardwoods | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Northern Hardwoods | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Spruce/Fir | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Hemlock | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Jack Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Red Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| White Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Conifer Plantations | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Mixed Upland Hardwoods | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Mixed Northern Hardwoods | no | no | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Mixed Upland Conifer | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Swamp Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Bottomland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Tamarack | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Northern White Cedar | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Black Spruce | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Lowland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Lowland Conifer | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Non-Forested | none | |||||
| Special Features | Snags, Living Cavity Trees |
Habitat: In both the Lower Peninsula and in the Upper Peninsula, Atlas Habitat Survey data indicate that White-breasted Nuthatches occur in a wide array of deciduous habitats. Beech-maple forests and northern hardwoods appear to be the most favored, but nuthatches also occurred regularly in dry deciduous forests, bottomlands, and mixed forests. In addition to deciduous and mixed forest, nuthatches inhabit urban residential areas and suburbs where shade trees and feeding stations provide nesting sites and resources. Nests are usually high in mature trees and constructed in natural cavities, knotholes, or old woodpecker holes. Occasionally, nuthatches will occupy nesting boxes.
Habitat: Breeding: Mixed or deciduous woodlands with large trees, orchards, villages. Wintering: Birds tend to remain in breeding areas.
Special Habitat Requirements: Natural cavities for nesting. Trees with minimum dbh of 12 inches are most suitable.
Habitat: Forests, woodlots, groves, shade trees. Typically in mature deciduous forest, also in mixed forest with some conifers; rarely found in pure coniferous forest. Often favors woodland edge along rivers, roads, clearings; may be in suburbs or parks if large trees are present.
Diet: Mostly insects, also seeds. Eats mostly insects (and spiders) during summer, supplementing these with seeds in winter. Proportion of seeds in diet may vary from zero in summer to more than 60% in winter. Will also feed on suet and peanut butter mixtures at feeders. Young are fed entirely on insects and spiders.
Nest: Site is large natural cavity or old woodpecker hole, usually 15-60 feet above ground; may rarely use birdhouses; may sometimes excavate own nest cavity. Female builds nest in cavity, a simple cup of bark fibers, grasses, twigs, hair. Adults may spend minutes at a time sweeping the outside and inside of nest with a crushed insect held in bill; chemical secretions of insects may help repel predators.