White-breasted Nuthatch Gallery

Nuthatchling
A white-breasted nuthatch fledgling opens its mouth wide as its parent arrives with freshly caught insects. White-breasted nuthatches are cavity nesters, the adult below is sticking its head out of the nest as it prepares to fly off in search of more food for its hungry offspring. Adult nuthatches eat insects as well as seeds and nuts, but during the time I watched them the adults were only bringing insects to their brood.
A white-breasted nuthatch fledgling opens its mouth in anticipation of insects being delivered by its parent
A white-breasted nuthatch sticks its head out of its nest cavity
A white-breasted nuthatch with a ladybug in its beak
Not Just the Bad Bugs
When I think of birds eating insects, the insects I envision are those that annoy or destroy, but when I saw this nuthatch with a ladybug in its beak I was reminded that some species eat a wide variety of insects, be they "good" or be they "bad".
A white-breasted nuthatch brings a grub to its nest at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Disguise
Some birds go to great lengths to discourage predators from raiding their nests. This white-breasted nuthatch went the route of disguise, using a grub as a fake mustache.
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August 9, 2011