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.
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”.
Has anybody seen the white-breasted nuthatch? It was right here, I swear!
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.