What does the Red-breasted Nuthatch song sound like?

Sitta canadensis

Song Common

Play the real Red-breasted Nuthatch song, the "yank-yank-yank...", and learn what to listen for.

“yank-yank-yank...”

What the Red-breasted Nuthatch song sounds like

The Red-breasted Nuthatch's vocalizations blur the line between song and call. Its primary vocalization is a series of high-pitched, nasal "yank" notes often given in a steady string – this serves as its song or long-distance call. It sounds like a tiny tin horn repeatedly honking: "yank yank yank." Males may sing a longer, more rhythmic series of these notes during breeding season.

“yank-yank-yank...”

Birders often file this one under Yank-yank song.

How to find the bird singing it

Breeds in coniferous forests (spruce, fir, pine, cedar) across Canada, the northeastern and western U.S., and higher elevations in the Appalachians and Rockies. Also uses mixed forests that include a conifer component. In winter, when irruptive, they can be found in a variety of habitats including deciduous woods, parks, and gardens (especially if conifers or feeders are present). Often attracted to pine, spruce, or fir stands, even in urban areas during invasions. They nest in cavities that they often excavate in soft wood or dead snags.

Rusty underparts and face pattern: Tiny, compact bird with a very short tail. Blue-gray upperparts, warm rusty-cinnamon underparts (lighter in females). Bold black stripe through the eye with a white stripe above it (giving a strong face pattern); the crown is black in males, gray in females. Throat is white. The bill is long, straight, and black, looking almost too large for such a small bird. Often seen creeping along bark, sometimes upside down. The combination of the small size, rusty belly, and eye-stripe is diagnostic. No other small tree-clinger in the East has the rusty coloration (only Brown-headed Nuthatch in the Southeast, which is brown-capped and lacks the eye stripe, and White-breasted Nuthatch which is larger with white face).

When you'll hear it

Summer

Breeds in boreal forests across Canada and the northeastern to northwestern US, also in montane conifer forests in the West (Cascades, Rockies, Appalachians at higher elevations). In summer restricted to areas with abundant spruce, fir, pine, cedar, or other conifers. Not usually found in lowland deciduous forests in breeding season.

Winter

In winter, remains in conifer zones but also disperses widely. Common in the northern US and Southern Canada's coniferous and mixed woods. During irruption years, appears throughout the US in a variety of habitats including deciduous woods, parks, and gardens (especially if feeders present). Many still remain in conifer-rich areas, but large numbers can spread far beyond typical range.

Fall

Fall irruptive movements can occur from late August through November, when birds from Canada flood into the US. Migration is not a strict north-south pattern but rather dispersal; however, many do move generally southward. In spring (February-March), those that migrated return north to breeding areas. Outside of irruption, some local altitudinal migration occurs (coming down from mountains in winter).

Spring

Year-round resident in many parts of its breeding range if food is plentiful. For example, throughout much of southern Canada and the northeastern US conifer belt, and the western montane forests, one can find them in all seasons. They only leave if cone crops fail or weather is extremely harsh.

Don’t confuse it with

Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Larger, with a clean white face (no black eye-line) and a black (male) or gray (female) cap.

Red-breasted Nuthatch song FAQ

What does a Red-breasted Nuthatch song sound like?

How do I tell a Red-breasted Nuthatch from a White-breasted Nuthatch by ear?

White-breasted Nuthatch: Larger, with a clean white face (no black eye-line) and a black (male) or gray (female) cap.; Underparts are white (male) or light rust only on lower belly (female), not extensive rich orangey underparts..

When is the best time to hear the Red-breasted Nuthatch song?

During breeding season (spring/summer), pairs establish territories in conifer forests and excavate a nest cavity (often smearing sap around the entrance). They raise their young usually by early summer. By late summer, family groups may start foraging together. In the fall, if cone crops are poor, large numbers will migrate irruptively (August through November) into southern Canada and the United States far outside their breeding range. At these times, they show up at feeders and in deciduous woods in unusual abundance. In winter, they join mixed-species foraging flocks with chickadees, kinglets, and others. Come spring, irruptive individuals typically move back north (February-March), though some may stay and even attempt breeding if habitat is suitable. In their resident areas, they begin nesting as early as late April, often while snow is still melting in boreal zones.

More Red-breasted Nuthatch sounds

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